US officials reject claim tourist was denied entry over bald JD Vance meme
www.independent.co.uk
DHS does not deny strong-arming tourist into letting them into his phone, only that agents sent him home because of a meme

DHS does not deny strong-arming tourist into letting them into his phone, only that agents sent him home because of a meme

The story circulating online — first in Norwegian newspaper Nordlys and then picked up by British tabloids — claims that during Mikkelsen’s encounter with the Department of Homeland Security, agents took his phone and found a meme depicting Vance as a bloated, smooth, bald man staring off into the distance.

Mikkelsen claims that the officials threatened to fine him $5,000 or send him to prison for five years if he refused to provide them with his phone password. The tourist ultimately agreed to hand over his information, allowing agents to look through his phone.

The reports picked up enough steam in headlines and on social media to justify CBP putting out a statement denying parts of the story.

  • Salvo@aussie.zoneEnglish
    38·
    20 hours ago

    Just a reminder for anyone travelling to the US (or any other totalitarian regime that doesn’t respect right to privacy).

    https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/how-to-safeguard-your-phone-when-entering-the-us-5-essential-security-tips

    I can’t remember the combination of buttons you need to hold down on your iPhone to disable biometric unlocking and to force erase your phone.

    Anyone else remember these, and know the equivalent combination for Android devices, please comment.

    Keeping multiple devices is the easiest way to get by. Have a burner phone for everyday use when travelling and keep your main phone either at home, or locked and unpowered in your luggage.

    • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 hour ago

      You clearly must be joking

      Any “regime” like you describe, which btw, the US is not even remotely close to being unsafe for travelers as you imply, will take anything you carry on yourself without any due process

      I’m not saying they “threaten” you with it

      I’m not saying they “can” but won’t do that to you

      I’m saying they just do it.

      Try traveling to Palestine, Yemen, Venezuela, China, Iraq, Afghanistan or North Korea.

      You will get the idea of what a “Regime” actually is

      With any luck we will hear about you on the news haha

    • SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works
      11·
      17 hours ago

      To disable biometrics on your iPhone, simply press the power button five times, rapidly.

      This also gives you a power off option and an SOS button.

      If you want to fully encrypt the phone before confiscation, turn it off.

      • Salvo@aussie.zoneEnglish
        6·
        16 hours ago

        This can be paired with the “Erase all Data” option in “FaceID and Passcode” settings to add another level of security.

        Just remember to play dumb when you “accidentally” incorrectly enter your passcode 10 times in a row and to make sure you have a recent backup that you are able to access.

        • Dynamo@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          13 hours ago

          I agree with activating those options but due to timers preventing you to make another try starting after the 5th incorrect entry it will take at least 1h 21m to enter your PIN incorrectly 10 times. The last timer alone is 60min. So this unfortunately is not a quick way to wipe your iPhone in this scenario.

          I suspect they will not wait 60min to let you enter the a wrong PIN for the 10th time if you even get that far. Much more likely they will confiscate the device to clone it in order to have unlimited tries for brute forcing if they really want to access your phone.