Defending your privacy at the border

Into The Blue

Speedwell wrote: »

but I'm not an "international man of mystery", I'm just a garden-variety business analyst.

That's exactly what an International Man of Mystery would say

anvilfour

Head The Wall wrote: »

Based on the links you provided it sounds to me like people that are already on watch lists or have priors get targeted. If that's the case then it's not all that strange that it happens.If you are up to something nefarious then you should be smart enough not to be carrying data that will get you in trouble.

I see this as being slightly similar to them profiling people for drug searches eg, single guy in Columbia for 3 days on his own or someone on a watch list for a reason then they'll both get pulled aside

The big question is why do you think your data is so valuable that customs will want to access it, usually people go to an effort to hide things for a reason. If that's not what you're at then you just come across as someone looking to start an argument or movement about this

I don't want to sound contrary old fellow but I think it would be a pretty poor show for people to start talking about the kind of information that they want to keep hidden. After all, if I asked you to tell me your secrets, it wouldn't be a secret any more..!

This is aside from the fact that data which appears to be innocuous enough to you, may be interpreted as something more by the Police (See the "Don't talk to Cops" video if you're in any doubt about that.)

The EFF article is fairly broad in its scope - of course some people who are targeted by intelligence agencies and Customs are criminals who are trying to conceal their activities. Others still are innocent people trying to maintain their privacy in an environment where you can subjected to arbitrary search and seizures.

Of course if you or anyone else wants to start a thread called "Why should we bother" on the basis that you don't think you'd ever have any information you want to keep private, you're welcome to do so - but again I'd have to ask why you're commenting on the Information Security section of Boards in the first place?

anvilfour

Into The Blue wrote: »

That's exactly what an International Man of Mystery would say

...or have THEY got to you too? :-D

anvilfour

esforum wrote: »

I have read a few posts on yours, they always seem to center around the big brother / 1984 paranoia theme

Dear esforum,

Since you were so upset that many of my posts in the Information Security forum seem to centre around the theme of erm... keeping information secure, I have been contributing to a thread in "Animals and Pet Issues" for people to share pictures of their own pets.

I hope this serves to reassure you. ;-)

As for the rest of us, if anyone can improve on the advice offered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, would love to hear what you have to say.

Update :

I have also started a thread for people to share their fond memories of eating polo mints. Also a thread where people can share their favourite elevator music. Finally a thread about a postcard of a village post office in Kent, on which I'm currently bidding on eBay, as well as some useful tips for those thinking about training to be a human cannonball.