Subj : us border searches data
To   : Rob Mccart
From : August Abolins
Date : Sun Aug 24 2025 15:15:00

Hello Rob!

** On Sunday 24.08.25 - 09:11, you wrote to me:

 AA>> Interesting.. "The guidance says border agents cannot use the
 >> device to access information stored remotely, such as on "the
 >> cloud," ...

 AA>> "However, agents can search people's email, text and WhatsApp
 >> messages, and any other content that's accessible on a device."

 RM> I wonder if that may be because messages and such are considered
 RM> somewhat Public where a Cloud Storage site can be totally private?

Seems to me it should/could be the other way around. Perhaps  
they consider it's overreach to insist they have the user's  
phone sucking data if you don't want it to?  However, I suppose  
searching the phone's own local contents is akin to searching a  
bag of luggage that is *with* the person.

I think asking to access the Cloud Storage would be akin to  
asking to access another device, but in this case it's a  
virtual one and not one in the control of the user, and  
therefore exempt?

But what is interesting though.. would be if you claim to  
forget the password, what's the worst that can happen?  Some  
apps offer "Forgot password?" options.. but that requires a  
connection to the web which their rules say they cannot force  
you to do.


 AA>> "Travellers are "obligated" to present their electronic devices
 >> ...including providing necessary passwords."

 RM> I can add this to all the reasons why I don't travel outside
 RM> Canada anymore, although I only went to the USA quite often
 RM> in earlier years and never made it to any other countries.
 RM> I can't think of many I'd like to visit, although that may be
 RM> more due to having to cope with the crowds of people you fight
 RM> getting there than not wanting to visit another country..

Me too.  Not interested to travel to the USA anymore.  I've  
been to Florida a few times as part of my pastlife work, and  
once to Pennsylvania, and once to Boston.

Wouldn't mind travelling to my parent's home country in Europe,  
but I'm not interested to go through the hassle of getting a  
passport.

We have quite a vast country to explore. No passport required.


 AA>> Wrt to Telegram, Session, et al.. I suppose the user could
 >> uninstall the apps prior to inspection of a device, and then
 >> reinstall them after clearance from border security.

 RM> From their Cloud account..   B)

Yes.. Tg and Session resync from the cloud when reinstalled and  
verified on a device, so.. their evironments can be  
reconstituted when you are nolonger at the border.

-- 
  ../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
 * Origin: Stare into this point intently ->.<- (1:153/757.21)

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