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This is why i'm so excited for the Librem smartphone. If i'm in complete control of the operating system, I can put measures in place to combat this. For exampl

This is why i'm so excited for the Librem smartphone. If i'm in complete control of the operating system, I can put measures in place to combat this. For example, a function that requires a password whenever the phone leaves a certain location (so if the police confiscate my phone, i'm sure it's locked). Or maybe a function that you can activate that makes the phone appear bricked until the power button is pushed 20 times in a row. You could activate this before going through customs.

macintux 8y ago
Lying to law enforcement is illegal, so subterfuges like that are perilous in their own way.
- ngngngng 8y ago
  Would it perilous if you just plead the fifth? If you knowingly state that you don't know how to turn the phone back on, then it's a lie, but if you just plead the 5th? Also, why is it legal for them to lie to me when I can't lie to them?
  - TheRealPomax 8y ago
    It's not that it's legal, is that you have no way to hold them to account when they do.
    - megous 8y ago
      "It's not that it's legal" Unless this somehow escapes qualified immunity, it's legal for them to lie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity Also you may have no way to gather your own evidence anyway.
TheRealPomax 8y ago
Of course, they are entirely within their right to just take your phone, and then never give it back. You "officially" have legal recourse to get it back, but in reality, you plain won't. If you _really_ care about this, travel without your phone, and travel with a minimal-account wiped laptop that runs, has some apps, and has zero work or personal data on it. Stick some steam games on it at most. Then get a burner phone once you're in the country you need to be in, let people you need to talk to know what your new temporary number is, and restore your data from a secure source that you can access using your laptop. Then when you leave, "burn" the phone and properly wipe your laptop again.

macintux 8y ago

Lying to law enforcement is illegal, so subterfuges like that are perilous in their own way.

ngngngng 8y ago
Would it perilous if you just plead the fifth? If you knowingly state that you don't know how to turn the phone back on, then it's a lie, but if you just plead the 5th? Also, why is it legal for them to lie to me when I can't lie to them?
- TheRealPomax 8y ago
  It's not that it's legal, is that you have no way to hold them to account when they do.
  - megous 8y ago
    "It's not that it's legal" Unless this somehow escapes qualified immunity, it's legal for them to lie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity Also you may have no way to gather your own evidence anyway.

TheRealPomax 8y ago

Of course, they are entirely within their right to just take your phone, and then never give it back. You "officially" have legal recourse to get it back, but in reality, you plain won't. If you _really_ care about this, travel without your phone, and travel with a minimal-account wiped laptop that runs, has some apps, and has zero work or personal data on it. Stick some steam games on it at most. Then get a burner phone once you're in the country you need to be in, let people you need to talk to know what your new temporary number is, and restore your data from a secure source that you can access using your laptop. Then when you leave, "burn" the phone and properly wipe your laptop again.