Latest news with #SophiaCope
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Carrying a burner phone and 7 other precautions to take when you enter Trump's America
When entering the United States through an airport or seaport, your electronic devices – laptops, phones, tablets – can be subject to search by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Advertisement A basic search involves an officer manually reviewing the device's contents without using any external tools. An advanced search uses specialised equipment to access, copy and analyse the data on your device. This more invasive search requires reasonable suspicion of a law being broken or a national security threat, and must be approved by a senior Customs or Border Protection official. But border agents do not need a warrant to conduct either one of these searches. An electronic device subject to search is any 'that may contain information in an electronic or digital form, such as computers, tablets, disks, drives, tapes, mobile phones and other communication devices, cameras, music and other media players', according to Customs and Border Protection. We say everyone should have a plan before travel Sophia Cope, senior lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation The issue has made headlines in recent weeks after a lawyer was detained in early April at the Detroit airport by customs officials, who told him they would confiscate his phone unless he gave it to them to look through his contacts.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Visiting the US? Protect the data on your phone from border searches
When entering the United States through an airport or seaport, your electronic devices — laptops, phones, tablets —can be subject to search by officials from the Customs and Border Protection. A basic search involves an officer manually reviewing the device's contents without using any external tools. An advanced search uses specialized equipment to access, copy and analyze the data on your device. This more invasive search requires reasonable suspicion of a law being broken or a national security threat, and must be approved by a senior Customs or Border Protection official. But, border agents do not need a warrant to conduct either one of these searches. An electronic device subject to search is any 'that may contain information in an electronic or digital form, such as computers, tablets, disks, drives, tapes, mobile phones and other communication devices, cameras, music and other media players,' according to Customs and Border Protection. The issue has made headlines in recent weeks after a Michigan attorney was detained in early April at the Detroit airport by Customs officials, who told him they would confiscate his phone unless he gave it to them to look through his contacts. (Because he was a US citizen, he was given back his phone and eventually allowed to reenter the country after a family vacation in the Dominican Republic.) 'We say everyone should have a plan before travel,' said Sophia Cope, senior attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation nonprofit focused on civil rights in the digital age. The EFF, an international digital rights group, has created anextensive guide on how to protect your digital privacy at the border. Cope said the foundation does not 'discourage people from handing over the actual physical device,' as federal agents have the right to inspect it. However, Cope said to be aware that an officer may ask for a device to be unlocked or requests the passcode: 'The traveler has to know what they're going to do in that moment, either they're going to comply or they're not going to comply.' Here are key steps in protecting the data on your device: Minimize your phone's data Before you travel, delete sensitive data on your phone or move it to secure cloud storage (and log out of those accounts). If you're a journalist, attorney, doctor or other professional, you have a special responsibility to protect sensitive data—whether it's confidential sources, privileged client information, or even personal content like photos or private messages, Cope said. The EFF also suggests leaving behind electronic devices such as laptops and computers, if possible. Use strong passwords and encryption Enable full-disk encryption — on an iPhone, go to Settings and Face ID & Passcode, where you should see the phrase data protection is enabled at the bottom of the page. Also, set up strong, alphanumeric passwords and disable facial recognition and fingerprint identification, as these may be easier to compel. CBP and other law enforcement agencies can use advanced forensic tools to recover deleted files and reveal past activity on your device, even if it's not visible at first glance, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. But the EFF discourages people from trying to hide data on their devices. 'We recommend against using methods that may be, or even appear to be, calculated to deceive or mislead border agents about what data is present on a device,' she said. Back up your data 'Backups prevent your data from being lost if your device is seized, stolen, or broken—risks that are significantly heightened during international travel,' according to the EFF. The EFF has a guide on how to enable advanced data protection on IOS and a Surveillance Self Defense Guide. You may choose to safeguard your data at home or work or use an online backup you can access while traveling. Power down devices Turn off your devices completely and make sure they're disconnected from wi-fi before arriving at Customs. This ensures that full-disk encryption is active and adds a layer of protection. Get a temporary phone For especially sensitive travel, consider using a temporary or burner phone with only the essential data needed for your trip, but be prepared for any questions that may arise from agents. 'Sometimes having a completely wiped phone or that kind of very clean travel device might itself raise suspicions,' said Cope. She suggests that travelers be prepared to give an honest answer when using a travel phone. 'You don't want to be in a situation where what you've done or what you're saying could be interpreted as lying to a federal agent, and that's a crime,' Cope said. Know your rights You have the right to refuse a search—even if there may be consequences, such as having your electronics confiscated. Assert your rights calmly and ask whether you're free to go. If a device is confiscated, ask for a receipt. Cope said if you choose not to comply with a request, border agents might let it go if it's just a routine inspection and you're not a specific concern, but there's also a chance it could upset them. 'You kind of have to hope for the best,' she said. Be prepared to seek legal support If you believe your rights are violated, legal organizations like the EFF can help. Document the encounter and seek assistance as soon as possible. What about social media? Under its 2018 policy, 'CBP expressly says that they are not allowed ... to look at live cloud content,' Cope said. To make sure officers don't access any information stored online, CBP officers will either ask the traveler to turn off internet and network connections or they'll turn them off themselves, according to the CBP website This includes both public and private social media—whether it's a public Instagram or a private Facebook account, Cope said. Previously, she said, officers were able to open the apps and scroll through the accounts. This rule also applies to other devices like laptops or iPads. Customs agents are only permitted to review data 'resident on the device,' which means information that's physically stored on the hard drive, Cope said. However, she notes a technical caveat: Even though data like emails or social media content live primarily in the cloud, 'copies are downloaded onto the device,' so agents might still see remnants of cloud content. She recommends that travelers 'delete social media apps' and 'clear the cache' in browsers as a precaution.
Miami Herald
17-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Planning a trip abroad? Here's how protect the data on your devices at U.S. border searches
When entering the United States through an airport or seaport, your electronic devices—laptops, phones, tablets—can be subject to search by Customs and Border Protection. A basic search involves an officer manually reviewing the device's contents without using any external tools. An advanced search uses specialized equipment to access, copy and analyze the data on your device. This more invasive search requires reasonable suspicion of a law being broken or a national security threat, and must be approved by a senior Customs or Border Protection official. But, border agents do not need a warrant to conduct either one of these searches. An electronic device subject to search is any 'that may contain information in an electronic or digital form, such as computers, tablets, disks, drives, tapes, mobile phones and other communication devices, cameras, music and other media players,' according to Customs and Border Protection. The issue has made headlines in recent weeks after a Michigan attorney was detained in early April at the Detroit airport by Customs officials, who told him they would confiscate his phone unless he gave it to them to look through his contacts. (Because he was a U.S. citizen, he was given back his phone and eventually allowed to reenter the country after a family vacation in the Dominican Republic.) 'We say everyone should have a plan before travel,' said Sophia Cope, senior attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation nonprofit focused on civil rights in the digital age. The EFF created an extensive guide on how to protect your digital privacy at the border. Cope said the foundation does not 'discourage people from handing over the actual physical device,' as federal agents have the right to inspect it. However, Cope said to be aware that an officer may ask for a device to be unlocked or requests the passcode: 'The traveler has to know what they're going to do in that moment, either they're going to comply or they're not going to comply.' Here are key steps in protecting the data on your device: Minimize your phone's data Before you travel, delete sensitive data on your phone or move it to secure cloud storage (and log out of those accounts). If you're a journalist, attorney, doctor or other professional, you have a special responsibility to protect sensitive data—whether it's confidential sources, privileged client information, or even personal content like photos or private messages, Cope said. The EFF also suggests leaving behind electronic devices such as laptops and computers, if possible. Use strong passwords and encryption Enable full-disk encryption — on an iPhone, go to Settings and Face ID & Passcode, where you should see the phrase data protection is enabled at the bottom of the page. Also, set up strong, alphanumeric passwords and disable facial recognition and fingerprint identification, as these may be easier to compel. CBP and other law enforcement agencies can use advanced forensic tools to recover deleted files and reveal past activity on your device, even if it's not visible at first glance, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. But the EFF discourages people from trying to hide data on their devices. 'We recommend against using methods that may be, or even appear to be, calculated to deceive or mislead border agents about what data is present on a device,' she said. Back up your data 'Backups prevent your data from being lost if your device is seized, stolen, or broken—risks that are significantly heightened during international travel,' according to the EFF. The EFF has a guide on how to enable advanced data protection on IOS and a Surveillance Self Defense Guide. You may choose to safeguard your data at home or work or use an online backup you can access while traveling. Power down devices Turn off your devices completely and make sure they're disconnected from WiFi before arriving at Customs. This ensures that full-disk encryption is active and adds a layer of protection. Get a temporary phone For especially sensitive travel, consider using a temporary or burner phone with only the essential data needed for your trip, but be prepared for any questions that may arise from agents. 'Sometimes having a completely wiped phone or that kind of very clean travel device might itself raise suspicions,' said Cope. She suggests that travelers be prepared to give an honest answer when using a travel phone. 'You don't want to be in a situation where what you've done or what you're saying could be interpreted as lying to a federal agent, and that's a crime,' Cope said. Know your rights You have the right to refuse a search—even if there may be consequences, such as having your electronics confiscated. Assert your rights calmly and ask whether you're free to go. If a device is confiscated, ask for a receipt. Cope said if you choose not to comply with a request, border agents might let it go if it's just a routine inspection and you're not a specific concern, but there's also a chance it could upset them. 'You kind of have to hope for the best,' she said. Be prepared to seek legal support If you believe your rights are violated, legal organizations like the EFF can help. Document the encounter and seek assistance as soon as possible. What about social media? Under its 2018 policy, 'CBP expressly says that they are not allowed ... to look at live cloud content,' Cope said. To make sure officers don't access any information stored online, CBP officers will either ask the traveler to turn off internet and network connections or they'll turn them off themselves, according to the CBP website This includes both public and private social media—whether it's a public Instagram or a private Facebook account, Cope said. Previously, she said, officers were able to open the apps and scroll through the accounts. This rule also applies to other devices like laptops or iPads. Customs agents are only permitted to review data 'resident on the device,' which means information that's physically stored on the hard drive, Cope said. However, she notes a technical caveat: Even though data like emails or social media content live primarily in the cloud, 'copies are downloaded onto the device,' so agents might still see remnants of cloud content. She recommends that travelers 'delete social media apps' and 'clear the cache' in browsers as a precaution.
Arab Times
10-04-2025
- Arab Times
One Tech Tip: Protecting your device privacy when crossing borders
LONDON, April 10, (AP): Planning an international trip? Travelers should prepare for the possibility of extra scrutiny of their phones when crossing borders, especially when entering the United States. The Canadian government warned travelers in a recent travel advisory that U.S. border agents are entitled to search your electronic devices and "don't need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open your device.' Some recent cases have made travelers nervous about their privacy, such as when a Brown University professor with a U.S. visa was deported to Lebanon after border agents found a photo of Hezbollah's leader on her phone. "While 100% privacy may be impossible in these situations, there are a few things you can easily do that make it much harder for someone to see your private data even with physical access to your device,' said Patricia Egger, head of security at encrypted service Proton Mail. Here are tips on protecting your device privacy while travelling: Experts say the best strategy is to reduce the amount of information you're carrying while traveling. If possible, leave your phone at home. If you need one on your trip, borrow a tactic used by corporate executives looking to avoid hackers: get a temporary or "burner' device. It can contain just the information you need for your trip. Download anything else from the cloud when you need it. If you have to bring your phone or laptop, upload sensitive information to a cloud storage service that uses end-to-end encryption, then delete the originals from your device. Also, encrypt your phone or laptop's storage drive and protect it with a strong password. Be aware this is different from merely having a device passcode lock, which is more easily cracked, or the end-to-end encryption on your favorite communication platforms. Turn off fingerprint or facial recognition features and use the PIN or passcode instead. There are two kinds of searches, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. In a basic search, an officer scrolls through your phone's photos, emails, apps and files. No suspicion of wrongdoing is needed to conduct this type of search. In an advanced search, the contents of your device could be copied for analysis. But a senior manager needs to sign off and there needs to be "reasonable suspicion' of a legal violation, except if there's any concern for national security, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "It's hard to say,' says Sophia Cope, senior staff attorney at the EFF, which offers an extensive online guide to border privacy. Warrants are not needed to inspect devices belonging to anyone entering the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents carried out a total of more than 47,000 electronic device searches last year, up tenfold from a decade ago. Basic searches "can be for no reason at all, totally random, or based on a mere hunch about someone - maybe based on how they look or an answer they gave to a preliminary question,' said Cope. Travel history can also be relevant, for example, if a traveler originates from someplace where terrorism, drug trafficking, or child sex tourism is common, she said. Border agents can also search devices "at the behest' of other agencies like the FBI or if they're associated with someone else of interest, such as a journalist's source, a business associate or a family member. Best to power off your devices when you touch down. Under current policy, US border agents are only allowed to look at information stored on the device, and not anything that's kept in the cloud. So if you have to leave your phone on, make sure it's kept in airplane mode or otherwise disconnected from the internet by Wi-Fi or cellular data. "Before crossing the border, put your device in airplane mode to ensure remote files don't get downloaded accidentally,' the Canadian government warns. But keep in mind there might be cached data that still remains on your phone, such as files in the trash that haven't been emptied. American citizens can't be denied entry to the United States for refusing to consent to device searches. The same should apply to lawful permanent residents such as green card holders, the American Civil Liberties Union says. But agents can make things difficult if they're refused. Travelers could be questioned, detained temporarily or have their devices seized and not returned for days or even weeks, rights groups say. Foreign travelers could be turned back if they say no. If you're forced to unlock your device, Egger advises that "where you can, log in yourself rather than divulging any PINs or passwords, and if forced to share passwords, change them as soon as you can.' Experts say the reason you should not use your device's fingerprint or facial recognition feature is that it's easier to compel you to unlock your device with biometrics. A border agent could simply hold your phone up to your face or force you to press your finger onto your device. There are also fears that police could use fingerprints stored on government databases. Powering off your devices is another way to protect against sophisticated attacks in case you don't consent to a search. Most modern phones and some laptops encrypt their data using a strong cryptographic keys only accessible when the user unlocks it with the passcode, said Will Greenberg, the EFF's senior staff technologist. If the device is locked but not turned off, the key remains loaded on the device's memory. Powerful hacking tools made by companies like Cellebrite can recover the key and decipher the data. But if the device is off, the key is unloaded and can't be accessed until it's turned on again and unlocked with the passcode. "This is why a border agent can't simply turn a device on to use a tool like Cellebrite,' Greenberg said. To be on the safe side, delete your social media apps and reinstall them later. Even though content is mainly stored on a social media company's servers, Cope says some posts or images might remain on your phone's memory cache and therefore viewable even in airplane mode. It's not just phones and laptops. Digital cameras, smartwatches, tablets, external hard drives, and other electronic devices can be searched. Some tactics might backfire. If you're tempted to completely wipe your phone or laptop hard drive before you travel, experts warn it could raise scrutiny. "If detected by a border agent, the fact that you wiped your hard drive may prompt the agent to ask why you did so,' the EFF's guide says. "Even traveling without devices or data that most travelers typically have could attract suspicion and questions.' Also don't try to hide information on your device, because border agents could find out, the group says. "Lying to border agents can be a serious crime, and the agents may take a very broad view of what constitutes lying,' it says. Check local laws of your destination before you travel. For example, Britain's counterterrorism law allows police to demand that people passing through the country's border hand over devices along with passwords and PINs. If they refuse, they can be charged with terrorism.
The Independent
10-04-2025
- The Independent
One Tech Tip: Protecting your device privacy when crossing borders
Planning an international trip? Travelers should prepare for the possibility of extra scrutiny of their phones when crossing borders, especially when entering the United States. The Canadian government warned travelers in a recent travel advisory that U.S. border agents are entitled to search your electronic devices and 'don't need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open your device.' Some recent cases have made travelers nervous about their privacy, such as when a Brown University professor with a U.S. visa was deported to Lebanon after border agents found a photo of Hezbollah's leader on her phone. 'While 100% privacy may be impossible in these situations, there are a few things you can easily do that make it much harder for someone to see your private data even with physical access to your device,' said Patricia Egger, head of security at encrypted service Proton Mail. Here are tips on protecting your device privacy while travelling: What should I do before I set off? Experts say the best strategy is to reduce the amount of information you're carrying while traveling. If possible, leave your phone at home. If you need one on your trip, borrow a tactic used by corporate executives looking to avoid hackers: get a temporary or 'burner' device. It can contain just the information you need for your trip. Download anything else from the cloud when you need it. If you have to bring your phone or laptop, upload sensitive information to a cloud storage service that uses end-to-end encryption, then delete the originals from your device. Also, encrypt your phone or laptop's storage drive and protect it with a strong password. Be aware this is different from merely having a device passcode lock, which is more easily cracked, or the end-to-end encryption on your favorite communication platforms. Turn off fingerprint or facial recognition features and use the PIN or passcode instead. What kind of search will be done at borders? There are two kinds of searches, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. In a basic search, an officer scrolls through your phone's photos, emails, apps and files. No suspicion of wrongdoing is needed to conduct this type of search. In an advanced search, the contents of your device could be copied for analysis. But a senior manager needs to sign off and there needs to be 'reasonable suspicion' of a legal violation, except if there's any concern for national security, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Who's at risk of getting searched and what are they looking for? 'It's hard to say,' says Sophia Cope, senior staff attorney at the EFF, which offers an extensive online guide to border privacy. Warrants are not needed to inspect devices belonging to anyone entering the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents carried out a total of more than 47,000 electronic device searches last year, up tenfold from a decade ago. Basic searches 'can be for no reason at all, totally random, or based on a mere hunch about someone – maybe based on how they look or an answer they gave to a preliminary question,' said Cope. Travel history can also be relevant, for example, if a traveler originates from someplace where terrorism, drug trafficking, or child sex tourism is common, she said. Border agents can also search devices 'at the behest' of other agencies like the FBI or if they're associated with someone else of interest, such as a journalist's source, a business associate or a family member. What should I do when I get to the border? Best to power off your devices when you touch down. Under current policy, U.S. border agents are only allowed to look at information stored on the device, and not anything that's kept in the cloud. So if you have to leave your phone on, make sure it's kept in airplane mode or otherwise disconnected from the internet by Wi-Fi or cellular data. 'Before crossing the border, put your device in airplane mode to ensure remote files don't get downloaded accidentally,' the Canadian government warns. But keep in mind there might be cached data that still remains on your phone, such as files in the trash that haven't been emptied. What if I refuse? American citizens can't be denied entry to the United States for refusing to consent to device searches. The same should apply to lawful permanent residents such as green card holders, the American Civil Liberties Union says. But agents can make things difficult if they're refused. Travelers could be questioned, detained temporarily or have their devices seized and not returned for days or even weeks, rights groups say. Foreign travelers could be turned back if they say no. If you're forced to unlock your device, Egger advises that 'where you can, log in yourself rather than divulging any PINs or passwords, and if forced to share passwords, change them as soon as you can.' Experts say the reason you should not use your device's fingerprint or facial recognition feature is that it's easier to compel you to unlock your device with biometrics. A border agent could simply hold your phone up to your face or force you to press your finger onto your device. There are also fears that police could use fingerprints stored on government databases. Powering off your devices is another way to protect against sophisticated attacks in case you don't consent to a search. Most modern phones and some laptops encrypt their data using a strong cryptographic keys only accessible when the user unlocks it with the passcode, said Will Greenberg, the EFF's senior staff technologist. If the device is locked but not turned off, the key remains loaded on the device's memory. Powerful hacking tools made by companies like Cellebrite can recover the key and decipher the data. But if the device is off, the key is unloaded and can't be accessed until it's turned on again and unlocked with the passcode. 'This is why a border agent can't simply turn a device on to use a tool like Cellebrite,' Greenberg said. What about social media? To be on the safe side, delete your social media apps and reinstall them later. Even though content is mainly stored on a social media company's servers, Cope says some posts or images might remain on your phone's memory cache and therefore viewable even in airplane mode. What else can be searched? It's not just phones and laptops. Digital cameras, smartwatches, tablets, external hard drives and other electronic devices can be searched. What not to do? Some tactics might backfire. If you're tempted to completely wipe your phone or laptop hard drive before you travel, experts warn it could raise scrutiny. 'If detected by a border agent, the fact that you wiped your hard drive may prompt the agent to ask why you did so,' the EFF's guide says. 'Even traveling without devices or data that most travelers typically have could attract suspicion and questions.' Also don't try to hide information on your device, because border agents could find out, the group says. 'Lying to border agents can be a serious crime, and the agents may take a very broad view of what constitutes lying,' it says. What about other destinations? Check local laws of your destination before you travel. For example, Britain's counterterrorism law allows police to demand that people passing through the country's border hand over devices along with passwords and PINs. If they refuse, they can be charged with terrorism. ___
