108

France’s research minister said a French scientist was denied entry to the US this month after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] techclothes@lemmy.world 25 points 3 weeks ago

Fucking hell. Freedom of speech isn't a thing anymore and all those shitheads who were crying about simply being called out for saying things are fine with the government punishing people for saying things.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 3 weeks ago

Honestly, dude probably dodged a bullet. Stay away from our shit hole country

[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 15 points 3 weeks ago

The Nazis literally did this with a law. They made it illegal to be critical of the party. Fuck the alarm, we've already been had.

[-] hikuro93@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Yup. "But we're not there yet", so they say. "Too soon to act rashly".

'First they started mass deportations, but it wasn't a corrupt system yet, so we did not act.

Then they started refusing people who were critical of them, but it wasn't a corrupt system yet, so we did not act.

Then they started blatantly taking money from the poor and give it to the rich, but it wasn't a corrupt system yet, so we did not act.

Finally they fully took over the nation, but by then all the people who would have acted were already gone and dealt with.'

Not all, but the gist of it. Thankfully some bubbles of resistance are starting to form in the US, but the main people who were elected to uphold the law and fight this democraticly are already bribed or blackmailed, so it's in great part up to the people, and whatever stance the army ends up taking when they are forced to choose between loyalty to the constitution, or an individual.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (7 replies)
[-] ChanchoManco@lemm.ee 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

All countries should advise their citizens against travelling to the USA. Edit: fixed typo.

[-] slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org 3 points 3 weeks ago

It should be common sense.

[-] asg101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 3 weeks ago

I seriously doubt the intelligence of anyone still traveling to the USA. I hope whatever project he is working on is not critical.

[-] daepicgamerbro69@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

these travels are scheduled months even years in advance depending on the field of study, nobody could have predicted how much worse second Trumps term would be. also other than travelling to somewhere where its bad much more reliable indicator of low intelligence are very confident statements outside of one's own depth.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] Tryenjer@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

These types of things are usually scheduled well in advance. Just one example, it is worth noting that I am not saying that this was the reason the scientist traveled to the United States, scientific centers with certain types of very expensive equipment usually rent it to projects from other scientific institutes and universities, sometimes with such high demand that you can wait years for it to be available for your project.

[-] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 weeks ago

I told my wife before I could never go to the US because of the stuff I write online, now I'm sure of it

[-] kandoh@reddthat.com 8 points 3 weeks ago

These guys are handing their phones over to show work itinerary in their emails amd the immigration officers are then going through all their other emails and messages.

Never, never, never, hand your unlocked phone over to an immigration officer. Print everything you need out before hand.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago

If you use fingerprint or face scan to unlock your phone, they can compel you to unlock your phone.

If you use a PIN, they cannot.

[-] aesthelete@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Restart your android before going through customs

load more comments (2 replies)
[-] MOARbid1@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

You're not missing a fucking thing, buddy.

[-] MadBigote@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Personally I'd like to visit the US for their national parks, or whatever is left after this administration policies.

[-] MordercaSkurwysyn@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

Paving all of them over would be a huge endeavor. I hope Putins orange labrador doesn't take is as a challenge.

[-] can@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

Eh, I think I might be turned off visiting ever again.

[-] sparky@lemmy.federate.cc 4 points 3 weeks ago

But think of the endless suburban car parks and Walmarts. Such culture.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] ThomasCrappersGhost@feddit.uk 8 points 3 weeks ago

The USA has no place criticising the actions of other countries. Never has.

[-] bstix@feddit.dk 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I wonder how they search it. I doubt they manually read every fucking text message in all apps, so I guess they search for keywords or something.

So, let's say someone wanted to get someone in trouble, they could write them an email with some "incriminating" white text on white background and have them stopped by the thought police at the border.

It would be funny if they stopped some Canadian Mexican returning from Cancun and found shittalk about Trump on his phone.

Btw. Does anyone have Ted Cruz's email address?

[-] perestroika@lemm.ee 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Travel advise: prepare for a trip to the US like you'd prepare for a trip to Russia or China. (Note: being an anarchist who thinks Putin, Xi and Trump don't deserve a separate rope for each, I wouldn't consider a visit.)

Don't bring your real computing device. Bring an empty device from which you can VPN to a system that actually has your data.

If you need to bring an encrypted device, consider the possibility that authorities will attempt to coerce you into unlocking it (and will cause you great disruption and indignity if you won't). You might be safer bringing a concealed + encrypted microSD card and a device loaded with an OS intended to be searched. If the data matters, make sure you cannot unlock your device under coercion.

(Trivial method: send your friend in the US a snailmail letter. Ask them to keep the letter until your arrival. Into the letter, steganographically embed the OTP key material to obtain the passphrase to decrypt your device. Now to decrypt the device, three things will be needed: your cooperation and knowledge, the device, and the letter. And you can deny that the letter contains anything.)

Edit: upgraded advise - mail your local contact an encrypted MicroSD card. Cross the border with a Raspberry Pi in factory packaging, or buy it locally (they're still permitted, despite their widespread use by anarchists).

[-] drmoose@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

That's not only US either, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, China - all can coerce you into unlocking your devices and detain you if you refuse which is fucking crazy.

Never ever give them this right even if you trust the government as they'll make a redundant copy and government data security is such a joke you'll be 100% pwnd.

Make sure your laptop is encrypted and disable face unlock on your phone. They can detain you for 24h in most places (6h in US) and will tell you to buy a return ticket. Do not take the risk even if you have nothing to hide.

As a security expert - these laws are 100% authoritarian abuse. As if terrorists can't host their encrypted terrorist files offsite and pull them from public wifi when they enter the country. It's an absolutely joke.

load more comments (6 replies)
[-] despicable@lemmy.today 5 points 3 weeks ago

Translation: if you're going to the US you might have to immediately find a flight back because their government might go through your phone and find out that you rightfully criticised their great orange leader. Glad I managed to visit before, America can go and choke on their aspirations.

[-] ScotinDub@lemm.ee 5 points 3 weeks ago

Amazing to think that they criticised "freedom of speech" in Europe

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] elatedCatfish@lemm.ee 5 points 3 weeks ago

Sounds like a case of “MAGA snowflake syndrome” smh

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] athairmor@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

How’d they get into his phone? Face or fingerprint?

Make sure you turn off biometrics before traveling. They can’t force you to disclose a passcode.

EDIT: Actually, if you have to travel to the USA, wipe your phone before you leave.

[-] jonne@infosec.pub 4 points 3 weeks ago

IIRC they can compel you to unlock your phone. Or just deny you entry if you don't. It's best to make sure you travel with a 'clean' phone and PC, border patrol got ridiculous powers in the patriot act and nobody's ever rolled any of it back despite decades of abuses.

load more comments (7 replies)
load more comments (10 replies)
[-] HawlSera@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago

I am going to die in a concentration camp before 2028

[-] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

if we are poop buddies i will share my sardines with you

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

What? A scientist who is critical of Trump?? How can that be???

[-] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

How strange that all the people who think don't like Trump?

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›
this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025
108 points (99.1% liked)

World News

45686 readers
3265 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS