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.

  • techclothes@lemmy.world
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    3 days 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.

  • TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip
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    3 days 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
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      3 days 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.

  • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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    4 days 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.

    • Hikuro-93@lemmy.ca
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      4 days 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.

      • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        the scientists were smart enough to flee Germany or places that nazis occupied. i see this going to happen with USa if not already, US already has a problem with shortages in some areas of stem. its a complex set of problems all around, this latest fiasco just adds into it.

    • misteloct@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Please don’t say “Nazis”. Like, which Nazis, the 1940s German ones or 2025 American ones? It’s confusing. Please be clear next time you talk about them.

        • blurcosp@leminal.space
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          3 days ago

          Yeah, but when you say “The Nazis literally did this with a law” it’s not entirely clear if you mean the German Nazis from the 1940s or the American Nazis from the 2020s

            • misteloct@lemmy.world
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              3 days ago

              It’s important to distinguish the two. One was 85 years ago, the other is today… there might be other differences but can’t think of any right now.

              • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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                3 days ago

                Nazis are Nazis. Ask the people in that El Salvadoran prison if the boots forcing their necks down look like 40s or 2020s Nazis. Their agony is your answer.

  • perestroika@lemm.ee
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    3 days 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).

    • Dr. Moose@lemmy.world
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      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.

    • CCMan1701A@startrek.website
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      3 days ago

      My entry to China was really easy. I’m very concerned about my return trip to the US. I have to come back at my home and family are there… doors anyone know if I’m denied entity if I can just book and flight and leave? Why do I need to have the government deport off in rolling to go on my own?

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      I’m not quite sure I’d call that trivial, haha.

      There’s also the option of making a hidden partition or otherwise doing stenography within the device. I’m guessing for most travelers just pretty surface level hiding of things will be enough, though. TSA agents are not cybersecurity experts.

  • ChanchoManco@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

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

  • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Welcome to Trumps America.

    Where everything that Trump doesnt like, or is legitimately critical of him, or is just an opinion that Republicans don’t like… is Terrorism.

    Seems an awful lot like that oppressive government tyranny the ammosexuals were feverishly polishing their rifle barrels to, doesnt it? I wonder why they are all so suspiciously silent! /s

  • bstix@feddit.dk
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    3 days 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?

  • alkbch@lemmy.ml
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    3 days ago

    Would be helpful if we could see those messages so we can form an opinion.

  • despicable@lemmy.today
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    4 days 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.

    • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
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      4 days ago

      Usually I respect the honesty more than the subterfuge.

      But when it’s Nazi’s. Nope. Wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire.

      • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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        3 days ago

        You respect the honesty because it reveals people’s character. And if a person thinks that Taylor Swift is an awful singer, then cool, you can agree or disagree.

        But when it’s honesty about contempt for your fellow man? A punch in the face is the only thing that works.

      • B-TR3E@feddit.org
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        3 days ago

        One thing authoritarian systems have in common is a permanent atmosphere of fear. Honesty is highly unwanted there, integrity will get you straight into trouble. Fascist systems are built on hypocrisy and fear.