New Zealand can now fine travellers who refuse to unlock their digital devices for a

[David48atTD]

Travellers entering New Zealand who refuse to disclose passwords for their digital devices during forced searches could face prosecution and fines of up to $NZ5,000, in a move border officials say could be a world first.

Key points:

• Anyone who refuses to open a device can face prosecution and a fine of up to $NZ5,000 ($4,581)
• Customs said it was not aware of any other country being able to impose penalties for not opening a device
• The NZ Council for Civil Liberties described the new law as a "grave invasion of personal privacy"

Under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, which came into force this week, officials are able to demand travellers unlock any electronic device so it can be searched.

Anyone who refuses can face prosecution and a fine of up to $NZ5,000 ($4,581).

The law also gives agents the authority to copy any data on searched devices.

[harrybarracuda]

That's fucking nuts. They should at least have to obtain a warrant.

By the way, where's the link?

Ah use this one.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a8566541.html

That is frankly shocking, and I hope it costs some lawmakers their jobs.

[David48atTD]

By the way, where's the link?

New Zealand can now fine travellers who refuse to unlock their digital devices for a search - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

... but the Forum software converts it to xxx.xx.xx

Just search ABC New Zealand can now fine travellers who refuse to unlock their digital devices for a search

[jabir]

Surely customs everywhere have the right to access digital or any other devices, in which case refusal to grant access via key or password would be an automatic offence. Seems not.

[harrybarracuda]

“It is a file-by-file (search) on your phone. We’re not going into ‘the Cloud’,” Mr Brown told NZTV.
“We’ll examine your phone while it’s on flight mode.”

He might as well have added "Honest".

Yeah, fuck right off.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/world...56066783032e44

[harrybarracuda]

Time for some enterprising Kiwi to resurrect this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubberhose_(file_system)

Kim Dot Com maybe, before he gets jailed?

[AntRobertson]

Kinda weird this is all coming in under this Labour govt. also.

[Little Chuchok]

Always believed that the Labour Government want more controls than others for some reason.

Anyway, Customs have to have "Probable cause" before you are searched.

[harrybarracuda]

Always believed that the Labour Government want more controls than others for some reason.

Anyway, Customs have to have "Probable cause" before you are searched.

But they don't have to tell you what it is, and you can't appeal it.

And if you refuse, you become a criminal.

It's fucking North Korea. I'm surprised Kiwis aren't going apeshit.

[Little Chuchok]

^True, but you can make them shit their pants if they are being a smart arse.

I've dealt with them for years. Half my mates are ex officers. As long as you have done nothing wrong, then take NO shit from them at all. If they don't have probable cause, then they can and do get seriously in the shit.

[Luigi]

No worries, let's grab a few beers and have a good photo album browse together.

[Maanaam]

That's fucking nuts. They should at least have to obtain a warrant.

Agree. Or just cause or reasonable suspicion.

[Maanaam]

It's fucking North Korea.

TSA ok then?

I'm surprised Kiwis aren't going apeshit.

Some will. NIMBY's mainly. Many have the attitude of "if you've got nothing to hide, why not help the authorities get the bad guys".

[harrybarracuda]

TSA ok then?

I'm talking about the civilised world.



But then again, the TSA can't fine you on a whim.

[Luigi]

^^ Make sure to wipe everything next time yer doing a run.

[happynz]

This is disappointing, though it is hard to imagine immigration or customs taking the time to scan anything but a tiny number of travellers' devices.

[harrybarracuda]

This is disappointing, though it is hard to imagine immigration or customs taking the time to scan anything but a tiny number of travellers' devices.

You know what a nosey bunch of c u n t s the Thais are.

If the General sees this and thinks it's a good idea, they'll be snooping on everyone.

[harrybarracuda]

This is disappointing, though it is hard to imagine immigration or customs taking the time to scan anything but a tiny number of travellers' devices.

Lets say some bored knuckle dragger who works in customs sees a pretty girl and decides he wants to check her phone for nude selfies...

He can do it without so much as a by your leave.

And just claim she looked "suspicious" or "nervous" or something. That's what happens when you do not define "reasonable cause".

[Chittychangchang]

You know what a nosey bunch of c u n t s the Thais are.

If the General sees this and thinks it's a good idea, they'll be snooping on everyone.

It'd keep his army very busy, trouble is they'd all get their minds "warped"..then he'd have no army.

[aging one]

If the General sees this and thinks it's a good idea, they'll be snooping on everyone.

1 in 1000 immigration officers would read English well enough to go through a computer that had no Thai prompts, no Thai language and no ability to have a Thai keyboard.

I would not worry Harry, why would you be stopped here when you have never been stopped before anywhere?

Isnt Maanaam a Kiwi?

[HuangLao]

If this NZ policy sticks, we might expect many countries to follow suit in similar paranoid fashion.

[harrybarracuda]

1 in 1000 immigration officers would read English well enough to go through a computer that had no Thai prompts, no Thai language and no ability to have a Thai keyboard.

Said AO, brandishing his state of the art smartphone.

[David48atTD]

^ I miss my old flip phone.

Had that star trek communicator feel to it.

[jamescollister]

This is nothing new, except maybe the fine, Australian border control can confiscate any device you fail to unlock for inspection.
As to reasonable/probable cause, not even on the books, don't want to comply, get detained, deported if on a visa or held for further inquires if a citizen.

You may be able to get a police check done for personal data, but no chance you can get an Interpol or international check for flags, not part of freedom of information acts.

[klong toey]

That's okay haven't got password protection on my phone so will refuse finger print scan and facial recognition.