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No, but when you refuse to unlock it, it could mean that the device is confiscated indefinitely. Where an encrypted container, delivered over a cloud-storage pr

No, but when you refuse to unlock it, it could mean that the device is confiscated indefinitely. Where an encrypted container, delivered over a cloud-storage provider is not immediately tied to you at the border.

jMyles 7y ago
> but when you refuse to unlock it, it could mean that the device is confiscated indefinitely Has that actually happened in the case of a device belonging to a person legally authorized to enter the USA? That's rough. In any case, I typically travel with a wiped (but backed up) phone and an encrypted (but backed up) laptop. One thing I haven't fully figured out is how to manage travel photography - it's not easy to back up tens of gigs remotely, so I usually just end up traveling with it encrypted on my laptop hard drive but not otherwise backed up.
- mLuby 7y ago
  On the photography side, you could either upload each day from hotel/coffeeshop wifi or put it on an SD card (which could be searched and confiscated).
  - estebank 7y ago
    A good practice for safe guarding pictures taken over holidays in case of any number of events is to mail yourself sd cards with a copy of the pictures. You would still want a copy to carry with you in case of the mail failing but you would also be somewhat protected from physical damage or theft while on your trip.
    - jMyles 7y ago
      How easy is it to mail an SD card internationally to the USA?
      - estebank 7y ago
        Not any more difficult than mailing postcards or any document. Use a rigid envelope. Mail is usually reliable enough and this would be an "off-site backup", so to speak. If the likelihood of losing the copy on your person is .01 and the likelihood of losing the mailed copy is .01 then the likelihood of losing your photos is .0001.
- gnopgnip 7y ago
  Yes, customs and border protection will seize electronics from US citizens if it believes there is contraband on them. But it is exceedingly rare.

jMyles 7y ago

> but when you refuse to unlock it, it could mean that the device is confiscated indefinitely Has that actually happened in the case of a device belonging to a person legally authorized to enter the USA? That's rough. In any case, I typically travel with a wiped (but backed up) phone and an encrypted (but backed up) laptop. One thing I haven't fully figured out is how to manage travel photography - it's not easy to back up tens of gigs remotely, so I usually just end up traveling with it encrypted on my laptop hard drive but not otherwise backed up.

mLuby 7y ago
On the photography side, you could either upload each day from hotel/coffeeshop wifi or put it on an SD card (which could be searched and confiscated).
- estebank 7y ago
  A good practice for safe guarding pictures taken over holidays in case of any number of events is to mail yourself sd cards with a copy of the pictures. You would still want a copy to carry with you in case of the mail failing but you would also be somewhat protected from physical damage or theft while on your trip.
  - jMyles 7y ago
    How easy is it to mail an SD card internationally to the USA?
    - estebank 7y ago
      Not any more difficult than mailing postcards or any document. Use a rigid envelope. Mail is usually reliable enough and this would be an "off-site backup", so to speak. If the likelihood of losing the copy on your person is .01 and the likelihood of losing the mailed copy is .01 then the likelihood of losing your photos is .0001.
gnopgnip 7y ago
Yes, customs and border protection will seize electronics from US citizens if it believes there is contraband on them. But it is exceedingly rare.