4 ms·

The Italians do the same thing. If your name matches some name or you’ve travelled to some naughty place, you’ll get picked for this sort of thing. That said,

The Italians do the same thing. If your name matches some name or you’ve travelled to some naughty place, you’ll get picked for this sort of thing. That said, the last time I went to Italy the customs guy looked annoyed at being awake. He asked my son’s age (he is huge but too young to use the electronic gate), then shrugged and stamped my passport with all of his strength.

7bit 2y ago
Don't spread misinformation. The difference is that in Italy it is not against the law to not hand out the password to your phone -- or anything else for that matter.
- izacus 2y ago
  You're mistaking laws that hold for citizens and rules that hold for immigration and thus spreading misinformation. Even on Schengen borders they can ask you for your phone and deny your entry if you don't comply as a non-citizen.
- Spooky23 2y ago
  In the United States, you have a fundamental right to not testify against yourself, including providing a password. You can be compelled to provide a biometric. The UK has taken a different approach and my understanding is that you can be jailed for refusing to provide a password. Most countries recognize very different limits at a customs boundary. Is this appropriate in an age where a tiny device gives you access to all of your "papers" in many cases? I don't think so, but international law doesn't recognize our concerns with respect to that.
  - genewitch 2y ago
    > Most countries recognize very different limits at a customs boundary. In the US I've heard that boundary (the "border") encompasses ~75% of everyone living inside. It's like "within X miles of a border" and includes rivers and airports as well as the entire coastline. I'm not up to date on these rules and who's been caught out by them, but I have repeatedly heard the claim above.
- School-Cotton 2y ago
  That is also true in the US. Of course they can use it as a reason to deny you access to the country if you’re a noncitizen, but you don’t have to hand it over.

7bit 2y ago

Don't spread misinformation. The difference is that in Italy it is not against the law to not hand out the password to your phone -- or anything else for that matter.

izacus 2y ago
You're mistaking laws that hold for citizens and rules that hold for immigration and thus spreading misinformation. Even on Schengen borders they can ask you for your phone and deny your entry if you don't comply as a non-citizen.
Spooky23 2y ago
In the United States, you have a fundamental right to not testify against yourself, including providing a password. You can be compelled to provide a biometric. The UK has taken a different approach and my understanding is that you can be jailed for refusing to provide a password. Most countries recognize very different limits at a customs boundary. Is this appropriate in an age where a tiny device gives you access to all of your "papers" in many cases? I don't think so, but international law doesn't recognize our concerns with respect to that.
- genewitch 2y ago
  > Most countries recognize very different limits at a customs boundary. In the US I've heard that boundary (the "border") encompasses ~75% of everyone living inside. It's like "within X miles of a border" and includes rivers and airports as well as the entire coastline. I'm not up to date on these rules and who's been caught out by them, but I have repeatedly heard the claim above.
School-Cotton 2y ago
That is also true in the US. Of course they can use it as a reason to deny you access to the country if you’re a noncitizen, but you don’t have to hand it over.