France’s research minister said a French scientist was denied entry to the US this month after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration.

    • @deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      313 months ago

      Usually I respect the honesty more than the subterfuge.

      But when it’s Nazi’s. Nope. Wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire.

      • @sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
        link
        fedilink
        English
        113 months ago

        You respect the honesty because it reveals people’s character. And if a person thinks that Taylor Swift is an awful singer, then cool, you can agree or disagree.

        But when it’s honesty about contempt for your fellow man? A punch in the face is the only thing that works.

      • B-TR3E
        link
        fedilink
        English
        33 months ago

        One thing authoritarian systems have in common is a permanent atmosphere of fear. Honesty is highly unwanted there, integrity will get you straight into trouble. Fascist systems are built on hypocrisy and fear.

  • @despicable@lemmy.today
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1323 months ago

    Translation: if you’re going to the US you might have to immediately find a flight back because their government might go through your phone and find out that you rightfully criticised their great orange leader. Glad I managed to visit before, America can go and choke on their aspirations.

  • ScotinDub
    link
    fedilink
    English
    793 months ago

    Amazing to think that they criticised “freedom of speech” in Europe

    • FundMECFS
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Who would have thought. (Literally everyone)

  • @athairmor@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    67
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    How’d they get into his phone? Face or fingerprint?

    Make sure you turn off biometrics before traveling. They can’t force you to disclose a passcode.

    EDIT: Actually, if you have to travel to the USA, wipe your phone before you leave.

  • @Aux@feddit.uk
    link
    fedilink
    English
    633 months ago

    The US has turned in Russia for real. Russians were checking phones at the border when the war started.

    • MOARbid1
      link
      fedilink
      English
      423 months ago

      You’re not missing a fucking thing, buddy.

    • Guy Ingonito
      link
      fedilink
      English
      143 months ago

      These guys are handing their phones over to show work itinerary in their emails amd the immigration officers are then going through all their other emails and messages.

      Never, never, never, hand your unlocked phone over to an immigration officer. Print everything you need out before hand.

  • @perestroika@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    53
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    Travel advise: prepare for a trip to the US like you’d prepare for a trip to Russia or China. (Note: being an anarchist who thinks Putin, Xi and Trump don’t deserve a separate rope for each, I wouldn’t consider a visit.)

    Don’t bring your real computing device. Bring an empty device from which you can VPN to a system that actually has your data.

    If you need to bring an encrypted device, consider the possibility that authorities will attempt to coerce you into unlocking it (and will cause you great disruption and indignity if you won’t). You might be safer bringing a concealed + encrypted microSD card and a device loaded with an OS intended to be searched. If the data matters, make sure you cannot unlock your device under coercion.

    (Trivial method: send your friend in the US a snailmail letter. Ask them to keep the letter until your arrival. Into the letter, steganographically embed the OTP key material to obtain the passphrase to decrypt your device. Now to decrypt the device, three things will be needed: your cooperation and knowledge, the device, and the letter. And you can deny that the letter contains anything.)

    Edit: upgraded advise - mail your local contact an encrypted MicroSD card. Cross the border with a Raspberry Pi in factory packaging, or buy it locally (they’re still permitted, despite their widespread use by anarchists).

    • @CCMan1701A@startrek.website
      link
      fedilink
      English
      153 months ago

      My entry to China was really easy. I’m very concerned about my return trip to the US. I have to come back at my home and family are there… doors anyone know if I’m denied entity if I can just book and flight and leave? Why do I need to have the government deport off in rolling to go on my own?

    • Dr. Moose
      link
      fedilink
      English
      8
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      That’s not only US either, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, China - all can coerce you into unlocking your devices and detain you if you refuse which is fucking crazy.

      Never ever give them this right even if you trust the government as they’ll make a redundant copy and government data security is such a joke you’ll be 100% pwnd.

      Make sure your laptop is encrypted and disable face unlock on your phone. They can detain you for 24h in most places (6h in US) and will tell you to buy a return ticket. Do not take the risk even if you have nothing to hide.

      As a security expert - these laws are 100% authoritarian abuse. As if terrorists can’t host their encrypted terrorist files offsite and pull them from public wifi when they enter the country. It’s an absolutely joke.

    • @CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      5
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      I’m not quite sure I’d call that trivial, haha.

      There’s also the option of making a hidden partition or otherwise doing stenography within the device. I’m guessing for most travelers just pretty surface level hiding of things will be enough, though. TSA agents are not cybersecurity experts.

  • Hikuro-93
    link
    fedilink
    English
    33
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    Hey, that’s a good thing in my book, I guess.

    Same way as America prospered with talent fleeing a corrupt Europe in the past, now Europe can get that lost talent back from a corrupt America. The more they feel unwelcome and undervalued the more they will flock or stay wherever their talent can flourish and advance our progress as a society.

    No complaints from me on that. 🤷‍♂️

  • @ChanchoManco@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    32
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    All countries should advise their citizens against travelling to the USA. Edit: fixed typo.