Obliged to give up passwords and pins to NZ Customs?

Forums › Off topic › Obliged to give up passwords and pins to NZ Customs?

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#1218118 20-Jan-2015 11:03

Which reminds me.... I was crossing from Turkey into Iran back in the '70's when the Shah of Iran was still in Power and the secret police seemed everywhere. Business suit clad , surly looking men. We spent nearly 5 hours at the border "interviewed separated questioned left for awhile re interviewed etc At one stage, I kid you not! one of these guys held me, put his hand on my heart and said "where are your drugs?" "where do you hide them?" We were eventually allowed to pas into Iran.

So my rule of thumb has always been don't take anything through customs that will delay or incriminate you. Hell! if you are that worried have two hard drives disconnect the one with all the bad stuff on leave the other connected. These guys are not from MIT!

Having siad all that did i read someone where that Australia has the right to check your computer for porn etc?

Also it would be worth someone finding out exactly what our rights are entering and in the country regarding access to our computers in general.

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#1218120 20-Jan-2015 11:06

The Customs and Excise Act 1996 gives Customs some wide reaching powers.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0027/latest/DLM377337.html?src=qs

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#1218121 20-Jan-2015 11:08

How about storing the stuff you don't want them to see on your personal cloud etc and sauntering through customs with a 'clean' laptop?

And did Apple not recently encrypt iPhones to the point where they do not themselves have the key to decrypt? I imagine Customs would struggle with that one if you refused to cooperate. How about File Vault whole disk encryption on a Macbook? I don't know the technical in and out but I imagine that would take customs a long while to hack by brute force - way beyond the cost that is reasonable unless you are convinced the laptop contains terrorist attack plans or something I am sure.

If you set your iPhone right, you can have it wipe the phone if the PIN is entered incorrectly too often as well!

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#1218122 20-Jan-2015 11:09

Xile: The Customs and Excise Act 1996 gives Customs some wide reaching powers.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0027/latest/DLM377337.html?src=qs

Along with the Search and Surveillance Act 2012

MikeB4

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#1218123 20-Jan-2015 11:09

Until they pass customs they have not crossed the border and are not covered by NZ civil rights. NZ customs have extensive search powers you are required by request to grant access to computer and related equipement, if access is refused then entry can be refused. The US and most countries would do the same.

I would fully cooperate as I have no interest in generating greater hassles at airports etc just to be stubborn and bloody minded.

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#1218129 20-Jan-2015 11:10

KiwiNZ: Until they pass customs they have not crossed the border and are not covered by NZ civil rights. NZ customs have extensive search powers you are required by request to grant access to computer and related equipement, if access is refused then entry can be refused. The US and most countries would do the same.

I would fully cooperate as I have no interest in generating greater hassles at airports etc just to be stubborn and bloody minded.

What happens if they try and do it to a NZ citizen? They can't refuse them entry AFAIK.

Yabanize

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#1218133 20-Jan-2015 11:12

Geektastic: How about storing the stuff you don't want them to see on your personal cloud etc and sauntering through customs with a 'clean' laptop?

And did Apple not recently encrypt iPhones to the point where they do not themselves have the key to decrypt? I imagine Customs would struggle with that one if you refused to cooperate. How about File Vault whole disk encryption on a Macbook? I don't know the technical in and out but I imagine that would take customs a long while to hack by brute force - way beyond the cost that is reasonable unless you are convinced the laptop contains terrorist attack plans or something I am sure.

If you set your iPhone right, you can have it wipe the phone if the PIN is entered incorrectly too often as well!

"I do not want to enter my pin because im afraid if i enter it wrong too many times the evidence will be destroyed"

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#1218138 20-Jan-2015 11:13

Yabanize:
Geektastic: How about storing the stuff you don't want them to see on your personal cloud etc and sauntering through customs with a 'clean' laptop?

And did Apple not recently encrypt iPhones to the point where they do not themselves have the key to decrypt? I imagine Customs would struggle with that one if you refused to cooperate. How about File Vault whole disk encryption on a Macbook? I don't know the technical in and out but I imagine that would take customs a long while to hack by brute force - way beyond the cost that is reasonable unless you are convinced the laptop contains terrorist attack plans or something I am sure.

If you set your iPhone right, you can have it wipe the phone if the PIN is entered incorrectly too often as well!

"I do not want to enter my pin because im afraid if i enter it wrong too many times the evidence will be destroyed"

Or..."oops - I got it wrong! It says the phone is "wiped" now - what do you think that means? I'm not very technical."

MikeB4

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#1218140 20-Jan-2015 11:14

Geektastic:
KiwiNZ: Until they pass customs they have not crossed the border and are not covered by NZ civil rights. NZ customs have extensive search powers you are required by request to grant access to computer and related equipement, if access is refused then entry can be refused. The US and most countries would do the same.

I would fully cooperate as I have no interest in generating greater hassles at airports etc just to be stubborn and bloody minded.

What happens if they try and do it to a NZ citizen? They can't refuse them entry AFAIK.

They can keep you there for hours, do a lot of uncomfortable searches and at the day spent a stupidly long period of time waiting to enter.

Yabanize

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#1218141 20-Jan-2015 11:16

Geektastic:
Yabanize:
Geektastic: How about storing the stuff you don't want them to see on your personal cloud etc and sauntering through customs with a 'clean' laptop?

And did Apple not recently encrypt iPhones to the point where they do not themselves have the key to decrypt? I imagine Customs would struggle with that one if you refused to cooperate. How about File Vault whole disk encryption on a Macbook? I don't know the technical in and out but I imagine that would take customs a long while to hack by brute force - way beyond the cost that is reasonable unless you are convinced the laptop contains terrorist attack plans or something I am sure.

If you set your iPhone right, you can have it wipe the phone if the PIN is entered incorrectly too often as well!

"I do not want to enter my pin because im afraid if i enter it wrong too many times the evidence will be destroyed"

Or..."oops - I got it wrong! It says the phone is "wiped" now - what do you think that means? I'm not very technical."

I wonder if there is a way to mod android that if you type a certain pin your phone will wipe itself

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#1218142 20-Jan-2015 11:16

KiwiNZ:
Geektastic:
KiwiNZ: Until they pass customs they have not crossed the border and are not covered by NZ civil rights. NZ customs have extensive search powers you are required by request to grant access to computer and related equipement, if access is refused then entry can be refused. The US and most countries would do the same.

I would fully cooperate as I have no interest in generating greater hassles at airports etc just to be stubborn and bloody minded.

What happens if they try and do it to a NZ citizen? They can't refuse them entry AFAIK.

They can keep you there for hours, do a lot of uncomfortable searches and at the day spent a stupidly long period of time waiting to enter.

I presume they'd have a harder time denying your requests to speak to a lawyer etc though. Bill of Rights and all that.

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#1218151 20-Jan-2015 11:23

KiwiNZ:

I would fully cooperate as I have no interest in generating greater hassles at airports etc just to be stubborn and bloody minded.

I don't see wanting to have reasonable control over who has access to one's intimate and personal information as being"stubborn and bloody minded"!

I would have less issue with this if the searches were conducted in the presence and full oversight of the person who owns the data. Perhaps this is how it happens - I have no idea!

I would have major concerns about giving up the keys to my data kingdom and having my devices whisked off to who-knows-where by who-knows-who for who-knows-what for any length of time.

MikeB4

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#1218153 20-Jan-2015 11:25

Item:
KiwiNZ:

I would fully cooperate as I have no interest in generating greater hassles at airports etc just to be stubborn and bloody minded.

I don't see wanting to have reasonable control over who has access to one's intimate and personal information as being"stubborn and bloody minded"!

I would have less issue with this if the searches were conducted in the presence and full oversight of the person who owns the data. Perhaps this is how it happens - I have no idea!

I would have major concerns about giving up the keys to my data kingdom and having my devices whisked off to who-knows-where by who-knows-who for who-knows-what for any length of time.

If you are that concerned don't take your computer across borders.

Gordy7

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#1218158 20-Jan-2015 11:31

"told to surrender passwords to her laptop and phone for curious border agents.

Why not simply remove your passwords on these devices for border agents.
Then put back your passwords after leaving customs.

Alternatively put in temporary passwords for surrender to keep the border agents happy.
Again replace with your good passwords after leaving customs.

Cheers

Gordy

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#1218159 20-Jan-2015 11:31

KiwiNZ:

If you are that concerned don't take your computer across borders.

Of course! Silly me...

I assume I should also never have a bank account, use my real name on any documents, buy or use any electronic storage devices or services, leave the house or open my curtains should I wish to retain any vestige of personal privacy in the modern world..?

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