This has always been the case, but now more than ever: if you are traveling abroad, even if you are a citizen, you should either (a) bring a burner phone (no personal data/signed in to accounts); or (b) back up your phone and secure wipe it before the trip. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... - ThreadSky

aricohn.com • 3 days ago

This has always been the case, but now more than ever: if you are traveling abroad, even if you are a citizen, you should either

(a) bring a burner phone (no personal data/signed in to accounts); or

(b) back up your phone and secure wipe it before the trip.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/12/amir-makled-phone-search-border-immigration

Comments

igorjad.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

libertyview.bsky.social•3 days ago

Nerds only: If you already use VoIP and are going to be anywhere with extensive free wifi, you might be able to do without a phone at all. Just bring a cheap tablet with softphone and alternate email. Pick up voicemail, recv,make&return calls, email your pics home, and wipe it before Customs.

aricohn.com•3 days ago

I repeat: DO NOT bring your primary cell phone with all your data and accounts across the border. You have basically no rights when crossing.

debjben.bsky.social•3 days ago

Serious question-how can I protect myself against "friends" who travel internationally, take none of this seriously, and send me anti-Trump messages?

yappydagger.bsky.social•3 days ago

Block them

debjben.bsky.social•3 days ago

I have, but their phones will show they're sending me messages, and I'll be guilty by association.

yappydagger.bsky.social•3 days ago

🤷🏽‍♀️ Change your number

gos75.bsky.social•3 days ago

Same advice for foreigners visiting the US, I guess?

aricohn.com•3 days ago

Obviously

hammienugs.bsky.social•3 days ago

Bad idea:

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/what-could-get-you-in-trouble-at-us-border

《Telling a client to take a burner phone with them to the U.S. is “the stupidest advice” you could give, says a Toronto-based immigration lawyer.

...it may result in “a domino effect,” leading to you being barred from entering the country, he adds.》

aricohn.com•3 days ago

They can't bar U.S. citizens, which was the thrust of this post

hammienugs.bsky.social•3 days ago

No, but the same idea applies: using a burner phone will attract problems, not avoid them.

aricohn.com•3 days ago

Just not true. CBP can search you and your devices. They can subject you to secondary screening.

But they cannot access things that are not there.

The point is to avoid a situation where you're effectively compelled to hand over data on your device.

hammienugs.bsky.social•3 days ago

Well damn, I guess the Canadian immigration lawyers were wrong 🤷‍♂️

librariansteve.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don’t understand this objection. How would immigration officials know it’s not your primary phone?

aricohn.com•3 days ago

It's actually not that difficult to make your secondary phone look "lived in"

librariansteve.bsky.social•3 days ago

Exactly. Some apps, some phone numbers, a harmless text history… .

duimaze.bsky.social•3 days ago

Just read the Guardian article. The detroit news said he allowed them to “see” his contacts. I have no doubt now that they made a complete copy of his phone.

rich335.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm going to Japan in a few months. I'm taking my old phone and wiping it before I land.

rszasz.saxonco.com•3 days ago

Uh, does this not apply anywhere within 100 (150?) miles of a border?

shell4747.bsky.social•1 day ago

Not quite. They do have some powers within 100 miles of a border (for ex, apparently all of MI is within this zone) but seizing & searching yr phone w/o some kind of probable cause likely isn't one of them.

I hedge ("likely") bcse fucking SCOTUS man

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