The article discusses the author's decision to use a burner phone for travel to Asia, avoiding an iPhone due to concerns about sensitive data being accessed by U.S. border protection. The author notes that while this may seem extreme, especially for a journalist protecting confidential sources, the surge in electronics searches by Customs and Border Protection—43,000 reported last year—highlights growing risks. Recent cases have shown travelers being denied entry over data on their phones, prompting the choice of more secure, less connected devices.
I plan to leave my iPhone at home and travel with a burner phone to protect sensitive data from U.S. border protection officers.
The federal government has the authority to conduct border searches of travelers' personal electronics, including phones, laptops, and tablets.
Last year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported roughly 43,000 electronics searches, an increase from about 38,000 in 2023.
Travelers have been denied entry into the United States because of phone data, such as photos of guns and social media posts about protests.
Collection
[
|
...
]