Gaby del Valle, a data security reporter for The Verge, shares essential tips to safeguard your digital data while traveling, especially across U.S. borders. She explains the growing risks and legal complexities travelers face with device searches, advising on practical precautions. Meanwhile, Hollywood expert Matt Belloni dives into the reasons behind major tech companies' hefty investments in streaming, hinting at surprising connections in the entertainment industry. The discussion also touches on the rise of the Google Pixel as a top choice for smartphone users.
Prioritizing phone security and taking precautions is essential for travelers due to rising data privacy concerns and border inspection risks.
The legal framework allows customs officials to conduct searches on devices without a warrant, highlighting the potential for scrutiny based on found content.
Tech companies increasingly invest in streaming to enhance brand reputation and user engagement, amid growing competition and evolving success metrics.
Deep dives
Traveling with Phones: Security Concerns
When traveling, particularly across borders, it is crucial to prioritize phone security due to increasing data privacy concerns. Issues surrounding border searches have emerged, prompting travelers to contemplate how best to protect their devices. A recent discussion highlighted that while searches may not be widespread, the anxiety over potential scrutiny from customs officials is valid. Practical steps to safeguard personal information include deleting sensitive apps, logging out of accounts, and being cautious about what data is stored on devices.
Understanding Border Search Exemptions
The legality of border searches involves a distinct exemption that allows customs officials to inspect phones without a warrant at entry points. The border zone exemption permits searches even after arriving in the U.S., as travelers have not yet been fully admitted into the country. This legal framework has led to reports of individuals being questioned based on content found on their devices, stirring concerns about what constitutes probable cause. Consequently, travelers should be aware that their devices can be searched and that data on these devices may be utilized against them.
The Nature and Impact of Border Searches
When customs officials conduct searches, they may perform either basic or advanced searches on devices, with the latter potentially leading to extensive data retention. Basic searches can involve examining stored texts and photos, while advanced searches may allow officials to extract and keep data indefinitely. This situation raises critical implications for individuals, particularly those who may unknowingly have sensitive information on their devices. Understanding what officials can access during a search highlights the importance of pre-travel preparation to mitigate privacy risks.
Practical Recommendations for Travelers
Travelers can take multiple precautions to minimize the risk of data exposure during border inspections. Recommendations include factory resetting devices before travel, disabling biometric authentication, and ensuring sensitive content is completely deleted, even from recently deleted folders. These steps are particularly relevant for individuals carrying valuable or sensitive information, including professionals in law and journalism. By assessing personal risks and employing data protection strategies, travelers can better safeguard their information from potential government scrutiny.
Big Tech's Streaming Ambitions: Understanding the Move
Tech giants are increasingly venturing into streaming services, driven by the potential for brand enhancement and subscriber retention. Companies like Apple and Amazon approach Hollywood with the dual goals of bolstering their brand reputation and creating an ecosystem that keeps users engaged with their products. The significant investment in original content aims to differentiate these companies within an increasingly saturated market, despite the inherent complexities and challenges of the entertainment industry. As streaming wars intensify, these tech firms are navigating a landscape where traditional metrics of success may not fully apply.
If you’re heading on vacation this summer, you’re going to want to listen to this. The Verge’s Gaby del Valle joins the show to explain how worried you need to be about your digital data when you cross borders, and what you can do to protect yourself. Even if you don’t think you have anything to hide, a little precaution goes a long way. After that, Puck’s Matt Belloni joins the show to explain why Apple, Amazon, Google, and other tech companies continue to pour money into the streaming business, when it seems so far removed from what those companies do well. (Spoiler alert: it’s fun to be friends with Ben Stiller.) Finally, we answer a hotline question about the Google Pixel’s ascent to “best Android phone for people who just want a phone.”
Oh, also: thanks to everyone who voted for us in the Webby Awards! We’ll know soon whether we won, but however it shakes out, we’re so grateful to everyone who voted for us.
