[throwuxiytayq]

Disgusting. I’ve never had to let anyone touch my phone in my entire life in any country I’ve visited.

Is there a list of countries that does this? At this point it’s obvious I won’t ever be traveling to the US, but I’m curious if genuinely authoritarian countries like China are actually less of a police state at the border than the USA.

[ytoawwhra92]

I think almost all countries do this if your name is on a list (as this person's is). It's the nature of the lists and what gets your name added to them that varies from country to country.

[petterroea]

Visiting another country is a privilege, not a right.

[joeblubaugh]

This is a US citizen, so that’s a moot point

[aa-jv]

Rights are universal, whether a state cares about them or not.

[millzlane]

Some might even say these are natural rights.

[mdp2021]

That, whatever it means, cannot mean losses of personal rights.

[petterroea]

It means you aren't entitled to visit a foreign country. You aren't entitled to them letting you in.

Of course in a perfect world we all trust each other and have open borders, but that's a privilege we have to work for. I'm European and enjoy the open borders, but also am well aware that such a situation is not a given.

Cannot mean loss of personal rights, sure. Showing up at a border and being required to give up personal rights isn't ok.

But many people in this thread are writing as if they actually believe they have a right to go anywhere, and that simply isn't the case. It's the kind of thing you need live in a strong passport country to believe.

[lazide]

Most countries disagree?

[mdp2021]

("Most", is to be verified.)

These times will not be remembered as a pinnacle in the stages of Civilization. On the contrary, immensely barbaric and dark ages.

[lazide]

Sure buddy, and WW1/2 were walks in the park.

[thenthenthen]

I travelled to the US three times and once had my devices checked. Travelled to China more than 50 times, never had anything checked.

[crimsdings]

That's because they already checked in advance :)

[rmarquis]

I've been to China recently. No phone search whatsoever. Their Internet is behind the famous Great Firewall though, but there is no issue using a (foreigner-only) unlocked sim or e-sim to access the rest of the Internet.

[artisinal]

UK passed a law for this recently. Germany has been doing it for a while.