[jason9900]

I was traveling from Calgary to St.Louis on a personal trip and as everyone is probably well aware, airport security getting into the United States is extremely strict. Well I was in for a little shock today as I was checking into my flight, security pulled me aside for further questioning since I had creatine in my luggage. (Creatine is a white powder workout supplement, extremely common and 100% legal), they suspected it was cocaine. I found it pretty ridiculous that they would think I would carry around 500g of cocaine in a plastic tub marked CREATINE right in the open, but I did not want to give the security a hard time as it is their job to look into anything suspicious. Long story short I was taken into a room for questioning while security checked out my luggage (which I had my 9900 in).

When I was done being questioned I left and got on my flight. When I pulled out my BlackBerry I noticed it had been wiped. I have the feature where if you put in the wrong password 10 times it wipes itself. I was furious to know that the security tried to get into my phone, but ultimately failed, (I had the highest encryption settings enabled) leaving me with a wiped phone. I didnt lose any data as I use Blackberry protect but I am just mad they tried to breach my privacy like that.

I contacted airport security office, and other agencies, but have yet to hear back. Did anything like this happen to you guys?

[DisturbedRocks31]

You should just make a huge deal about it. Even if you didn't lose the data, act like you did otherwise they'd never care!

[sigint99]

Do you know for certain the security staff tried to unlock your phones password ? Maybe it wiped itself on its own due to a fault ?

[raino]

Wouldn't they need a warrant to get into your phone? I know the powder could be grounds for reasonable suspicion, but I doubt a search like this could be conducted without a warrant.

SCrid?

I'll be traveling in the upcoming week, and either way, it doesn't bode too well for my Android. It'll practically be begging to give away my dirty secrets to anyone who remotely looks like a fed

[jason9900]

Do you know for certain the security staff tried to unlock your phones password ? Maybe it wiped itself on its own due to a fault ?

Well considering I had my trusty 9900 since release without fault I doubt it wiped itself coincidently while it was in airport security possession. I get what your saying but I don't think I am too crazy to assume they tried to get into my phone

Posted via CB10

[gkl]

Do you know for certain the security staff tried to unlock your phones password ? Maybe it wiped itself on its own due to a fault ?

No way it wiped itself. At two different points, if you haven't typed the right password, it makes you type the word "blackberry" in order to continue to try. This way, it prevents getting wiped in your pocket or bag with something pressing up against it. Definitely someone tried every common password they knew. That is illegal search considering they didn't ask permission and you had not been charged with anything.

[trsbbs]

This might help.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/first_circu...h-warrant.html

Verizon Z10. Running 10.1.0.4651. Posted via CB10

[gkl]

This might help.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/first_circu...h-warrant.html

Verizon Z10. Running 10.1.0.4651. Posted via CB10

Maybe not. The OP never said anything about being arrested and thus the phone could not be considered "seized".

This is just like a cop asking you to exit your vehicle to ask you questions. He can look through your windows (look at the home screen) but can't get in and start opening the glove box (ruffling through text messages) with you giving permission first. None was given, thus an attempted illegal search.

EDIT: I would make a deal about it. He/she at least needs to be written up for it in order to learn a lesson.

Posted via CB10

[notfanboy]

This is where discreetly snapping a photo when someone tries to unlock your phone would come in handy. The photos would be silently sent to an email account (preferably not set up on your device so the intruder is oblivious to what is going on).

[Tracy Daken]

I was traveling from Calgary to St.Louis on a personal trip and as everyone is probably well aware, airport security getting into the United States is extremely strict. Well I was in for a little shock today as I was checking into my flight, security pulled me aside for further questioning since I had creatine in my luggage. (Creatine is a white powder workout supplement, extremely common and 100% legal), they suspected it was cocaine. I found it pretty ridiculous that they would think I would carry around 500g of cocaine in a plastic tub marked CREATINE right in the open, but I did not want to give the security a hard time as it is their job to look into anything suspicious. Long story short I was taken into a room for questioning while security checked out my luggage (which I had my 9900 in).

When I was done being questioned I left and got on my flight. When I pulled out my BlackBerry I noticed it had been wiped. I have the feature where if you put in the wrong password 10 times it wipes itself. I was furious to know that the security tried to get into my phone, but ultimately failed, (I had the highest encryption settings enabled) leaving me with a wiped phone. I didnt lose any data as I use Blackberry protect but I am just mad they tried to breach my privacy like that.

I contacted airport security office, and other agencies, but have yet to hear back. Did anything like this happen to you guys?

Welcome to the Land of the Free, and Home of the NSA, /Sarcasm. It is normal. They probably thought, because you had an encrypted phone locked, that you were porbably a terrorist of some sort. America really is just a huge conglomerate of Corporations now, and these Corps have our government in their back pocket. Sorry you had to deal with that. Unfortunately, me nor the majority of Americans, can do anything about it because our votes get thrown out. But we all love you!

[BitPusher2600]

Welcome to the Land of the Free, and Home of the NSA, /Sarcasm. It is normal. They probably thought, because you had an encrypted phone locked, that you were porbably a terrorist of some sort. America really is just a huge conglomerate of Corporations now, and these Corps have our government in their back pocket. Sorry you had to deal with that. Unfortunately, me nor the majority of Americans, can do anything about it because our votes get thrown out. But we all love you!

That's well said. This is all for "the greater good", whether they like it or not. Privacy or simple respect, not really relevant anymore are they?

[CrackedBarry]

They were probably trying to access your pictures, to see if there is any child porn or drug activity in there.
(You'd be surprised at how many people take incriminating photos of lines and bongs etc.)

Is it legal? Kinda...
Homeland Security Approves Their Right To Search And Seize Your Electronics Without Suspicion - Forbes

But it is also immoral, and you SHOULD raise a big stink about it. Contact ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation. And a senator like Rand Paul. He's one of the last politicians in the senate who actually cares about basic liberties and the constitution.

[DannyAves]

As far as I know there is an exception for searches at the border and the courts have already decided that searching electronic equipment is no different than searching luggage. Therefore customs has the right to read anything on your phone or laptop but I would complain about the loss of data because they could have asked you for the password.

[walt63]

It's tough to veto the NSA on security when terror threats/attacks and other criminal acts are happening all around the world.

You want the freedom, yet your safety. To be safe, the NSA may pull phone records, Internet usage, and even scan phone data that may wipe your device. All this to try to be one or two steps ahead of the bad guy. But again, we're irrate about not having enough privacy.

It's though...a catch 22. But we can look at it in a more positive light.

When the NSA made news for pulling phone records, I was okay with it. I had nothing to hide. I asked myself, would I rather know when I'm about to get punched in the face or get sucker punched. Obviously, I rather know so I could brace (prepare) myself and properly defend.

If the NSA has to do a little invasion of privacy to keep me, my family, friends, and let's say appx 3000 (# of deaths from 9-1-1) alive, I'll swallow my "freedom pride" for that.

I'm all for doing what's necessary for PROTECTION.

Posted via CB10

[m1a1mg]

Sometimes criminals come to the US and try the "very obvious" method. Where in they have a 500g bag of white powder marked as Creatine, that really is cocaine.

I hate the TSA as much as anyone, bunch of underpaid twits who aren't really LEOs, but they have great latitude at US points of entry.

[bambinoitaliano]

Dealing with US customs and immigration is a whole other beast. They are well protected from any lawsuits. Essentially they have the free reign to do whatever under the disguise of security. A couple of years ago, son of a coworker was taken to a room and beaten up by one of this goon with a thick phone book at the border and refuse entry. He's a young white kid that might misconstrued as young punk because of his manner. Still no reason to be physically assaulted.

[jon4400]

Good for you.

Posted via CB10

[Majestic Lion]

Wouldn't they need a warrant to get into your phone? I know the powder could be grounds for reasonable suspicion, but I doubt a search like this could be conducted without a warrant.

SCrid?

I'll be traveling in the upcoming week, and either way, it doesn't bode too well for my Android. It'll practically be begging to give away my dirty secrets to anyone who remotely looks like a fed

Patriot Act = TSA and other alphabet-soup agencies can do pretty much whatever they want, on the strength of suspicion alone.


As regards the wisdom in travelling through airports with any kind of powder, however labelled, and not expect repercussions? Well we'll let that lie.

[Jon Tessler]

It's tough to veto the NSA on security when terror threats/attacks and other criminal acts are happening all around the world.

You want the freedom, yet your safety. To be safe, the NSA may pull phone records, Internet usage, and even scan phone data that may wipe your device. All this to try to be one or two steps ahead of the bad guy. But again, we're irrate about not having enough privacy.

It's though...a catch 22. But we can look at it in a more positive light.

When the NSA made news for pulling phone records, I was okay with it. I had nothing to hide. I asked myself, would I rather know when I'm about to get punched in the face or get sucker punched. Obviously, I rather know so I could brace (prepare) myself and properly defend.

If the NSA has to do a little invasion of privacy to keep me, my family, friends, and let's say appx 3000 (# of deaths from 9-1-1) alive, I'll swallow my "freedom pride" for that.

I'm all for doing what's necessary for PROTECTION.

Posted via CB10

I had to re-read this twice. are you really serious? You don't care about invasions of privacy, warrantless searches....etc. you really should remember a quote by Ben Franklin "those who give up a bit of liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security".

The NSA's own charter is to spy on foreigners and foreign governments that want to do harm to the US. they have no chartered right to spy on American citizens. The fact that you are ok with them doing so in the name of "protection" shows that you have no idea what kind of slippery slope this country is on. As a Veteran of the Navy who was sworn to uphold the US Constitution I am absolutely disgusted at what the Government "thinks" it can get away with.

As to OP and his phone being wiped, I work for an airline, and travel regularly, why didn't you just unlock your phone before going through security?? as long as it is unlocked they(TSA) don't mess with it.

[ssbtech]

It sucks, but at least you had BlackBerry Protect to restore at least some of your information. Us BB10 owners don't even get that any more.

[jason9900]

I had to re-read this twice. are you really serious? You don't care about invasions of privacy, warrantless searches....etc. you really should remember a quote by Ben Franklin "those who give up a bit of liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security".

The NSA's own charter is to spy on foreigners and foreign governments that want to do harm to the US. they have no chartered right to spy on American citizens. The fact that you are ok with them doing so in the name of "protection" shows that you have no idea what kind of slippery slope this country is on. As a Veteran of the Navy who was sworn to uphold the US Constitution I am absolutely disgusted at what the Government "thinks" it can get away with.

As to OP and his phone being wiped, I work for an airline, and travel regularly, why didn't you just unlock your phone before going through security?? as long as it is unlocked they(TSA) don't mess with it.

I think if I didn't have it password locked then they would of actually went through my stuff. Not be like "hey no password so I'll leave it alone"

Posted via CB10

[fearmantis]

The NSA at its best in the USA. The land of the free.....

BB Z10 Rocks!

[raino]

The NSA at its best in the USA. The land of the free.....

You mean the TSA.....

[danprown]

Any rights the US constitution grants to its citizens do not apply at designated borders to non-citizens. Border security can legally search anything in the possession of a non-citizen trying to enter the country. They have the right to demand that you disclose your password for computers, cellphones, etc. They can fingerprint you, take your picture, enter you into any databse they want, and seize any suspicious (according to them) materials in your possession. They may or may not release those to you at some later date.

I am suprised anyone travelling to the US is not not aware of this.

[darkehawke]

They did this illegally. If they were suspicious they may have had the right to ask but they didn't and you should complain and pursue to the full extent of the law

Posted via CB10