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CNN and a a lot of other outlets are reporting that JPL engineer Sidd Bikkannavar, an American-born citizen, was detained at the border when returning from racing solar powered cars overseas.
The border guards demanded he turn over his government-issued NASA phone and its PIN and held him in their detention area.
Bikkannavar also was interviewed by The Verge:
"It was not that they were concerned with me bringing something dangerous in, because they didn't even touch the bags. They had no way of knowing I could have had something in there," he says. "You can say, 'Okay well maybe it's about making sure I'm not a dangerous person,' but they have all the information to verify that."
Bikkannavar says he's still unsure why he was singled out for the electronic search. He says he understands that his name is foreign — its roots go back to southern India. He didn't think it would be a trigger for extra scrutiny, he says. "Sometimes I get stopped and searched, but never anything like this. Maybe you could say it was one huge coincidence that this thing happens right at the travel ban."
Land of the free? Home of the brave?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Pslytely Psycho on Wednesday February 15 2017, @08:57AM
Why do they have to suspect you of anything?
Today, just existing and having an encrypted device is enough, after all you wouldn't encrypt anything legal you terrorist you.
Hell, having a device is enough, if you balk at them for wanting to inspect it you must be hiding something.
Everyone is a subversive. Even white Christian males might just be sneaky liberals in disguise trying to undermine America.
A good tan is enough to warrant 'special consideration.'
But hey, don't worry, your manuscripts will get published.
Unfortunately, not under your name....
The terrorists are winning. Our own shadows are now suspect
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 2) by butthurt on Wednesday February 15 2017, @12:52PM
> [...] just existing and having an encrypted device is enough [...]
The contents of an encrypted area, ideally, look just like random data. But any data could be random. So no matter what the device contains, we can't be sure it isn't encrypted.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Scruffy Beard 2 on Wednesday February 15 2017, @05:48PM
If your device does not even boot without unscrambling the "random data", that can be a strong clue.
I suppose you can argue that your phone just randomly started asking for a passphrase on boot, and you have not fixed it yet.