Security News NZ Airport Travelers Forced to Surrender Device Passwords, Data Copied by Govt

[frogboy]

New Zealand airport customs agents force thousands of travelers every year to hand over the passwords for their devices, in some cases inspecting files and even copying the data for the government.

Though this sounds like a severe privacy violation, the so-called digital strip search is performed without a court order as the customs agents claim to adhere to the country’s privacy act, which allows them to perform searches on people perceived as possible threats to national security.

Data obtained by New Zealand's 1

news channel reveals that agents can perform a quick or a much more extensive search, with one passenger explaining that he had to spend no less than 5 hours until all his data was analyzed. In some cases, the customs officers can create backups of travelers’ data and then pass it along to the government and law enforcement for closer inspection.

Full Article. NZ Airport Travelers Forced to Surrender Device Passwords, Data Copied by Govt

 

[Dean Winchestere]

Whenever I travel, I wipe all email and device data, use a temporary gmail/login and phone password and restore the real one from google and cloud services via encrypted vpn when I arrive, (and comply with password requests) Therefore they cannot and will not breach my privacy even if they try (and appear cooperative). I also put a lock on my sim card (and carry a spare) that requires a pin to be accessed. It is sad that we have to go to this length to protect our privacy.

 

[HarborFront]

From the link

Intelligence Investigations Customs general manager Jamie Bamford says that customs agents have the necessary means to crack the encryption of devices protected with a password if owners do not agree to unlock them themselves.

So they can break the password of iPhones too?

 

[Dean Winchestere]

From the link



So they can break the password of iPhones too?

We have to assume any encryption/password is breakable and or backdoor-ed until known otherwise. Keep your info on the cloud and the credentials in your head.

 

[orthonovum]

ugh... This is getting so bad people are going to start companies selling throw away travel phones/tablets/laptops.... hmmm hello Shark Tank / Dragon's Den

 

[509322]

If you never travel to NZ, then why fret about it ?

In the United States any Customs agent has always had the power to search & seize without a warrant. This is actually the case for Customs agents from many countries.