That's my take as well and has been for a while. Even if I'm not of a segment of people that gets selected for "random searches" I don't trust them to believe I have no facebook account etc when they ask for the password.
The risk of travelling there is simply too high now.
I think you mean "never visit Anywhere", since the UK (where you say you're from) does this exact same type of search and seizure, even to UK citizens. You could be subject to it when returning home from any trip abroad, not just the US.
It's not just one story though - there have been plenty stories and comments on HN, as well as other places.
I'd be surprised if anyone who regularly travels to the US hasn't found it to be extremely unpleasant at times. A while back I spent 6 months or so going back and forth from the UK to Houston or Atlanta, and every time I absolutely hated going through immigration. I've travelled to dozens of countries, and literally everywhere I've found the border guards to be friendly - except the US. Every time they behaved like power-hungry bullies, or I saw them behaving that way towards others. One time I travelled with a female colleague who was basically harassed by ridiculous questions from a very angry and loud border guard for no reason at all. He wasn't satisfied until she was in tears.
Another time there was a really long queue after getting off a flight (think it took over an hour to get to the desk), and there was a pregnant woman in the queue who seemed unwell and wanted to sit down - a guard shouted at her to stay in line, refused to get her a chair, and refused to let her jump forward in the queue (despite prompting from willing fellow passengers).
So the reason people don't want to travel to the US? Because it's a fucking horrible experience.
> there have been plenty stories and comments on HN, as well as other places.
We have ZERO data on the probability of this happening to someone. What we do know is that when it happens to certain people and they have some kind of notoriety or the ability to get noticed we hear about it. That means there is a non rational reaction from people which makes it seem like any one person stands a large chance of having the same experience. Obviously they have not the time or resources to doing this on any widespread basis. Hence it's a small risk. Ditto for that matter to letting them see what is on your phone. Don't want to sound like the 'if you have nothing to hide' guy (Eric Schmidt) but honestly is it such a big deal? [1]
[1] By that token I have no clue why people would allow complete and total strangers access to where they live (or drive them) which to me seems like a much greater risk. (Not saying the OP did this).
I agree that it would be nice to get 'real' number on this, rather than relying solely on empirical evidence. But given the nature of it, I don't see how that's possible.
When I mentioned other stories and comments, I wasn't only referring to those by people with "notoriety or the ability to get noticed" - indeed, I was mainly referring to randoms (such as myself, and BTW I have no notoriety and am an introvert).
OP didn't say it was a decision, just the message perceived. If you live outside the US, hearing stories or reading what happens to others is enough to know these things happen, anyway.
Reading a story like this, which is based entirely upon the information provided by Gal, and drawing any widespread conclusion about travel into the US is utterly irrational. From this story there is zero ability to determine if it really happened, or assuming it happened, you have no idea what the actual interactions were like between Gal and CBP agents.
Some of the facts presented don't even make sense. You don't take the fifth when refusing a search. You're relying on the fourth amendment and refusing to consent to a search. Searches like this having nothing to do with self incrimination.
I'd rather save my money and just not visit. I don't see anything that could out balance all the negatives. Many millions of Americans are lovely people who I'd donate a kidney to. I'd just not want to put myself through all that for so little gain.
I used to say that until I started doing sports competitions and had to travel there repeatedly. I was admittedly worried because of my ethnicity but it went fine (a Canadian passport and NEXUS membership might've helped...you also wouldn't find much on my phone other than sports memes, as much as I care about my privacy).
Similarly in the game development community, lots of people complain about customs but then go to GDC every year.
I guess my point is that as long as America continues being a pillar of the world, people (like myself!) will continue putting their principles aside and comply, and the system will have no reason to change.
There's a cost to doing that. I guess it depends just how badly you need to travel to the US, but as a Canadian citizen, I see no reason to endanger myself or my family by traveling there at the current time. Walt Disney World will still be there in 2021.
Hey we could still see a sea change at the US federal level of either progressive or adherent libertarian representatives that curtail the fear / police / surveillance state in the 2020 election.
Its about as likely as bitcoin taking over the world economy, but hey we all have to cling to false hope sometimes.
I think you'll have to wait awhile. These policy tools have been under both parties starting with GWB far as the initial PATRIOT Act (I think?). Right now, we're at a point where the USA might, but unlikely, go back to an isolationist policy far as borders.
At a meta level, this is a debate around internationalism vs globalism. Currently, Earth is in an era of internationalism. There is a desire by lots of people to move towards Globalism.
Even if a Democratic regime takes over in 2021 I promise you it will be no different. One of the largest expanses of the surveillance state was a consequence of the previous President, and there is no reason to believe that won’t continue into the foreseeable future.
Say that you take a burner when traveling abroad because you don't trust foreign governments to accord you the same civil rights protections against unreasonable searches that the United States does.
Sometimes? If I see a person in their 20s or 30s that have other status items (expensive clothes/accessories) but a $50 smartphone I assume something isn't quite right.
I appreciate the fact I'm British, but not out of any patriotism. I certainly don't think my country is awesome. Considering life is a lottery, all things considered I've been incredibly lucky to be born in a 'developed' wealthy nation.
The risk of travelling there is simply too high now.