Port of Entry - do they go through your phones?

[Teemo 252]

Has anyone had experience with officers at a port of going through your phone, or requesting to?

 

I was using a work visa a few years to come into the country (from Toronto), and that happened to me...felt like quite the invasion of privacy, over and above the invasion of privacy one should expect and accept in secondary inspection. And it was awkward for him to go through my contacts, ask me how I know them, or when he went through my email/texts and asking what some meant. Especially when he found one embarrassing, sexual-related email, read it out loud and said "this is provocative." Like, none of your business. 

 

Is this still common? Anyway to refuse it and still be let in (as a non-US citizen)? I'm open to almost anything else in terms of inspection, questioning, interviewing, searching my person and my luggage, etc, but going through the personal contents on my phone seems excessive and painful.

 

It should be said that of course I have nothing to hide or fear. I have entered lawfully, with inspection, dozens of times. But haven't re-entered in the last 4 years. This is about limits to the invasion of privacy, not trying to hide anything. 

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

8 minutes ago, Teemo said:

This is about limits to the invasion of privacy, not trying to hide anything. 

Invasion of privacy? Do you place security of the nation above or below "invasion of privacy"?

[Roel 7,192]

Yes, they can look at your phone, your laptop, etc.

 

[shumway1756 304]

Although it's definitely a point of controversy, they can absolutely do this. Sorry. This process makes your life an open book, we all have to do it.

 

With that said it's not incredibly common. But it is possible. If they do it, just hand it over and let them do what they do.

[Teemo 252]

7 minutes ago, missileman said:

Invasion of privacy? Do you place security of the nation above or below "invasion of privacy"?

Nice. Like I said I am open to everything else and I have nothing to hide. My question was if there is a limit or not, and if it was common or not. I believe those are fair questions. And if they say they have to go through my phone then I will let them go through my phone. 

 

I can already see this thread is going to go south if an otherwise reasonable person equates asking about searching through phones with not caring about national security. 

 

Mods feel free to close this thread please since i already received my answer. @Pitaya @Ontarkie

Edited June 7, 2018 by Teemo

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

I thought Canada could do this also to people if they wanted... I have heard of it being done anyways. So each country do have their own rights to see information if they feel they need to technically. Sucks but that is the case.

[Ontarkie 14,279]

 

Thread locked to further replies as requested by the OP

Edited June 7, 2018 by Ontarkie