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Travelers to the U.S. face more device searches than ever

As a person who grew up loving the “Guinness Book of World Records,” there are certain records I don’t love to see broken.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of device searches the agency conducted between April and June this year has reached an all-time high. According to statistics published on its website, CBP searched 14,899 devices. Of those, CBP reports nearly 93% were “basic” searches, meaning that a border official looked through a device manually. A little over 7% are labelled as “advanced” searches, meaning that a border official is likely using more invasive tools, such as a forensic device designed to copy and process data on mobile devices. Wired reports, “The April-June spike tops the previous highest quarterly figure of at least 12,766 devices, which were searched by CBP officials from January through March 2022, by 16.7 percent.” Learn more.

What you can do

  • Preparing devices for search. Americans returning to the U.S. from abroad cannot be denied entry into the country, but you may still be asked to unlock your devices. Regardless, you risk delays, extended detention, or having your device seized for search. Non-U.S. citizens are in an especially tough position, as they may be denied entry or even face deportation. Read our guide on how to prepare your devices in anticipation of international travel.
  • It’s not just what’s on your devices. Your online posts and reporting may be scrutinized ahead of a visit. The example of the Australian journalist Alistair Kitchen is telling here. After being pulled from a customs line, he recounts a federal officer telling him explicitly, “It’s because of what you wrote online about the protests at Columbia University.” Depending on your citizenship or visa status and what kind of reporting you conduct, this may represent an elevated risk for you as well. Read the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s reporting on this incident.
  • Our trainers are here to help. We’ve been getting more questions about border searches than ever before. That’s why, in collaboration with our friends at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, we have built a J-school digital security course and conducted related digital security trainings for journalists. Please reach out if you would like to pursue training for yourself or your newsroom.

Updates from our team

  • In our latest “Ask a security trainer” column, we break down how mobile phones can expose a user’s location, then help journalists consider when this type of tracking is and isn’t a real cause for concern. Check it out.

Our team is always ready to assist journalists with digital security concerns. Reach out here, and stay safe and secure out there.

Best,
Martin

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Martin Shelton
Deputy Director of Digital Security
Freedom of the Press Foundation