Are you going to the USA? Just make sure you've not said anything nasty about Trump or your phone might get searched and you won't be allowed in

I absolutely loathe the Orange One but since our elderly parents still live in the States, we are going on our annual trip home again this summer.

I know plenty of people who are vocally critical of Trump and MAGA tactics on social media and manage to go about their daily lives unscathed. There's more to this story...

Yeah, straight out of Goebbels Vance's speech.

No it doesn’t. Why say things that are obviously untrue? If there were any cases you would have linked them, wouldn’t you?

They've always had the right to check devices but it's not very practical so barely ever happened. However now, I have a sneaky suspicion that border officers are under pressure or incentivised in some way.
Europeans were barely ever targeted but in this political context, the more the UK, Canada, Aus and the EU stand up to Trump, the more 'examples' will be made.
The French scientist also happened to work in a sensitive area of research (space) and who knows how that might conflict or threaten some of EM's business interests? I think the guy was targeted for a reason - but certainly not because he's a potential terrorist, more to send a message to the European scientific community. Trump loathes Macron. He's also slapped 200% tariffs (ludicrous) on produce from France. And guess who loathes Macron just as much? Putin! Who recently compared him to Napoleon!

I’ve heard before that phones can be searched for the US - it seemed to be targeted at finding those who were entering as ‘escorts’ or those who were planning on being digital nomads, as I think you’d have to pay tax in the states or something.

I very much doubt this was a random check

After a little bit of digging... as I thought, the border search will only include an examination of information that is resident upon the device at the time it is presented for inspection. CBP officers may not use the device to access information that is solely stored remotely.

Oh right so now we have the final word on the story because it matches your narrative? How convenient

He had files taken from a USA university without permission, if you read the latest report.

Nothing to do with his words, more his deeds.

As far as I recall, the social media thing is optional? I don't believe you HAVE to provide all of your social media details like your facebook, instagram, messenger, x etc and certainly not your passwords. I think they may have the right to check public posts for instance. But not go into your private conversations. I might be wrong. Text messages on your phone are different as that's openly available once they get into the device. I'd personally log off any messaging apps and even better, get a 'neutral' device for such trips (appreciate that's additional money not every one has, but if travelling for business, I would make a case for the company to source an extra device for the US and other tricky places). As a rule, I don't voice personal opinions on a work device.

SIL as an English tourist was detained in America in the early 1990’s for not having the correct visa, bit complicated to explain but was an error on her part.

I’m quite prepared to believe that there was more to the French scientist than we know but I don’t believe for one minute they genuinely believe that anything he was saying was “terrorist “ in nature. A German tourist was detained for over 2 weeks because she was travelling with tattooing equipment so there’s no way in hell they would simply be sending a potential terrorist back. If they had any evidence of terrorism he would be in detention.

When you apply for your ESTA you have to provide your social media handles. Yes, you do need to be concerned.

I have to be there soon so will clean up my WhatsApp 🤦🏾‍♀️

This. Millions of people have anti trump sentiments on social media or private messages.

But if it crosses over into the 'if I had a gun I'd shoot him' type sentiment then it arguably becomes something else. I also suspect many people have expressed this with zero intention of doing any such thing but if you had messages of that kind about anyone else then you might expect it to be taken seriously.

There will undoubtedly be more too this than calling him an orange nut job.

There is no way that anyone in the UK can talk about the USA being like North Korea when people are jailed for social media posts.

Everyone needs to watch the border security programme, nothing to declare. Everywhere outside of Ireland is overly aggressive. The Irish one looks like a spoof documentary, by comparison.

mostcustome world wide have the right to

I would imagine absolutely nothing unless i had already been flagged as a person of interest.
What do you think would happen if uk customs searched your 'phone and found messages slating our government?

Avoid all the grief by going to Canada 🍁 instead.

Good grief. The USA is starting to resemble North Korea.

The latest report is that this isn't about his comments on anyone.

The UK, and the world, are dealing with an entirely different and ruthless government and President. Trumps pettiness is renowned, he has a list of people he is currently seeking revenge on. A list that Biden felt the need to give preemptive pardons to. Even if his accusations have no basis, all trump has to do is sue them and the accused end up bankrupt from the legal process of defending themselves. He doesn't care.

There is a reason people don't routinely go on holiday to Iran or Iraq because they have no diplomatic sway, imagine inadvertently breaking the law in the USA, well Dick-tator trump would enjoy lording it over any country (except Russia) if asked for diplomatic leniency. But imagine if all over your instagram, tiktok, facebook you are sticking it to trump...yeah ....don't expect him/them to be reasonable.

Trump is a cunt. Oops! There goes my trip to Vegas. Lucky me! 🤣