You are so screwed!
Tourists from the UK and other US allies including Germany and France, could be forced to reveal personal data, as well as disclose financial information and face detailed ideological questioning, according to Trump administration officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal. While US citizens have established rights against unlawful searches at the border, the extent to which foreign travellers can resist requests to hand over personal information is unclear.When I was younger, such border security would have been the province of the East Germans and the USSR, not the USA. We're going to have to rewrite our national anthem to change the last words to "the home of the pants-shitting cowards." We face far more risk from our on home-grown neonazis than we do from tourists. What is the risk here, intoxicated Eurotrash hitting on girls in nightclubs?
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In January, Susan Hall, head of technology and intellectual property team partner at law firm Clarke Willmott, advised the firm’s lawyers not to comply with requests for social media information. Hall told the Guardian: “Given the degree of discretion given to US Border forces by relevant legislation, it appears to me quite clear that all options – choosing a burner phone, using heavy encryption with the password only being supplied after the traveller has entered the US, and changed prior to leaving and so forth – risk creating a catch-22 situation in which any attempt to mitigate the effects of the procedures are likely to be interpreted as ‘probable cause’ for searching.
“In the short to medium term, I think the answer is going to be avoiding all but absolutely essential travel to the United States,” Hall added.
Changing our border policy from "come visit (and spend money)" to "what the fuck do you want" is going to do a fuckload of damage to our standing and image in the world. Not that Donald the Fearful cares.
we're already seeing a hit to the tourism numbers. it is only going to get worse. it's a matter of time when (not if) the European nations simply issue travel bans (and refuse to issue travel visas) to the US.
ReplyDeleteWhen you were younger, there wasn't Facebook nor did your phone act as an internet device.
ReplyDeleteBut your point about East Germany is well taken.
However, the searches of the type mentioned in the article were happening over a year ago, well before Donnie had a say. I'm unhappy that he and his crew haven't stopped then, or reigned in CBP, but CBP WAS doing these sorts of searches en to American citizens a year ago or more.
Yes, but demanding passwords? And at what point may you then change your password to protect yourself? After passing customs, before, after leaving the US? Under those terms, I would chose not to visit the US.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, this has been going on for a few years. But it wasn't applicable to visa exempt countries like the UK and France. You showed up, flashed your passport, got it stamped, and came in. They didn't do the sort of in-depth look at phones and computers that they're doing now.
ReplyDeleteSome of my friends are reliant upon German and French tourists for their livelihood. They're going to be hurting...
The next government is going to have it easy looking like angelic geniuses. As long as we get Democrats in.
ReplyDeleteThe FAA fuckery was under the previous administration. I'm not seeing a whole lot of difference between politicians.
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