[Source/Observer Network by Wang Yong, edited by Zhao Qiankun]
Recently, a French scientist was deported upon arrival in Houston for a conference as US customs staff found what they claimed to be "hate speech" on his cellphone. In recent times, US Customs and Border Protection have been requiring travelers entering the country to provide their electronic devices and checking the stored information.
According to reports from The Guardian (UK), CTV News (Canada), and Agence France-Presse (AFP), since Trump's return to the White House in January, his policies have caused turbulence worldwide, including in economic trade and travel sectors. Recent cases suggest that US Customs and Border Protection may use technical means to monitor any foreign citizens entering the United States for remarks made on social media, communication information, or applications that could damage the reputation of the Trump administration or contradict its policies, resulting in deportation.
US airport immigration checkpoint - The Guardian (UK)
Philippe Baptiste, Minister of Higher Education of France, confirmed that on March 9th this year, a French space scientist traveling to Houston for an academic conference was stopped at the US airport. During the so-called "random security check," US inspectors discovered "critical comments about Trump" on the scholar's phone and accused the content of potentially constituting terrorism. Subsequently, the scholar's device was confiscated and he was deported the next day.
Cindy Switzer, a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer practicing in both the US and Canada, stated that based on her experience, border inspection personnel previously only exercised this power over those suspected of crimes such as drug smuggling. However, she noted that these checks seem to have recently expanded to include random inspections of anyone entering the US.
Switzer advises travelers entering the US to consider carrying a spare phone or restoring their primary device to factory settings before entry, thoroughly cleaning it, not installing social software, email, or communication apps, and disabling cloud synchronization functions. When deleting files on phones or laptops, users should use secure deletion methods and empty the recycle bin. Additionally, all search traces on search engines should be cleared.
The article mentions that recent cases of travelers being subjected to equipment checks and denied entry into the US have drawn attention. Travelers from Germany and the UK have also encountered similar "political reviews" at US airports.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the US government has the authority to inspect electronic devices of travelers upon entry, even if the traveler explicitly refuses. If the traveler refuses to provide the password to unlock the device, they may be directly refused entry or deported.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7489773453936001590/
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