Canada? Police Can Force You to Show Them Everything You Have on Your Phone

[jaysabi]

I don't think we are getting the full story here.

I agree. There was, most likely, a little red flag attached to his ID. Perhaps he was busted for smoking pot when he was 18. Perhaps he was caught "urinating in a public place" at one time and charged. This might add "sex offender" to his ID.

Another person I know tried to bring a car stereo across the border without declaring it. This act gave him the "little red flag".

One should be very careful of what they do in youth or suffer the consequences down the road.

Here is a much more reputable story on the incident: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quebec-resident-alain-philippon-to-fight-charge-for-not-giving-up-phone-password-at-airport-1.2982236. Authorities won't say why they asked him to unlock his phone, but I can't think of an instance where that level of intrusion is warranted. Even if "sex offender" was added to his ID as you suggest, that doesn't justify demanding access to your phone upon return to the country.

[rokkyroad]

Authorities won't say why they asked him to unlock his phone, but I can't think of an instance where that level of intrusion is warranted. Even if "sex offender" was added to his ID as you suggest, that doesn't justify demanding access to your phone upon return to the country.

Believe me. I'm on his side. I'm just saying there must have been something that drew notice from the border agent. If there is the slightest chance of finding child porn on someone's phone the border agents are going to go for it.

[leopard2]

well, he did provide the phone for inspection, but refused to reveal the content of his mind, the question now is whether the constitution is valid at the border or not

it would boil down to encryption being illegal when crossing borders 

naturally the technical solution is easy, using a backup tool with encryption with plausible deniability, then resetting the phone to factory settings

are there any good image backup tools for phones?