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

[cakeorwine]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-french-scientist-detained

I wonder what he said in his private messages that were looked at when US Border Agents looked at his phone.

“I learned with concern that a French researcher” on assignment for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) “who was traveling to a conference near Houston was denied entry to the United States before being expelled”, Philippe Baptiste, France’s minister of higher education and research, said in a statement on Monday to Agence France-Presse published by Le Monde. “This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy,” the minister added.

"Another AFP source said that US authorities accused the French researcher of “hateful and conspiratorial messages”. He was reportedly also informed of an FBI investigation, but told that “charges were dropped” before being expelled."

Clearly some people might need a burner phone. And be careful of your social media use.

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.

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.

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

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.

I very much doubt this was a random check

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.

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!

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

Yeah, straight out of Goebbels Vance's speech.

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...

Who's been jailed for criticising Starmer?

But this notion of boycotting a country because you don’t like Trump is ridiculous.

@AnyoneWhoHasAHeart I've got Canadian friends and family. I'm not boycotting because I "don't like Trump", I'm boycotting because of what he and his administration are doing, and are threatening to do. This "51st state" bullshit is not funny. Never mind him cosying up to Putin.

Cambridge, surely!

Citation needed

And erasing minorities out of everything. This war against "DEI" is not simply a case of getting rid of quotas promoting opportunities for minorities (which would be bad enough). It is about literally erasing data and any references to their very existence. There are too many examples to quickly link to, but I don't think that's really sunk into people's minds yet. It's a white supremacist's wet dream come true.

So many fragile ego's over there in power! Quite hilarious really.
Did anyone watch school swap and see the US kids awe that we don't have any banned books?

Apartheid Elon is determined to recreate his youth. It didnt work well in S Africa, Elon, and the reason for that was not just because you weren't in charge of events, it was because you can't treat other people like that forever. They will only take it for so long. America deserves better than Bigly with you running around like an untrained puppy peeing everywhere. I hope they wake up soon. It won't be pretty.

Are you saying you are unaware of the people jailed last year for social media posts? Is it worth keeping up with the news.

No one in the UK has been jailed for "comments against their leader or government". Don't make shit up.

You mean the people jailed for inciting murder? You are aware that’s what the charge was? It certainly wasn’t for criticism of the government. It’s always worth keeping up with the news.

They think if they repeat it enough it becomes fact. Very Trumpian.

There is somewhat more to this story.They don't normally search people's phones when you enter the USA.

“The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory — in violation of a non-disclosure agreement — something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal,” she said.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told CNN that they could not speak about specific cases but that all people entering the US “are subject to inspection on a case-by-case basis.”

Maybe that was an excuse for deportation. We will likely never know, but it seems likely he was flagged for further investigation before he arrived in the US.

Is that you, Ms Keeler?!!! 🤣

It is loose enough to be used like that, yes.
But these guidelines have been the same over the previous 3 democrat and 1 republican administrations.

And being that loose, I'd question why both sides remained happy for it to stay the same.

Trump isn't exactly breaking new ground. He's using the same "book" previous presidents have been able to use.

You don’t see a worry that the regulations are now being used in a different way? If they didn’t throw up over reach before you can understand them not being a priority for change.