Travelers might be subject to an electronic device search at the border.

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Anyone could be subject to a search of their mobile device at the border — and while it is best to answer agents’ questions truthfully in these situations, travellers shouldn’t say more than what’s needed.

Even if you make it into the United States without getting asked for your password, you can still be asked for it by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers when you try to re-enter Canada, whether you are a Canadian citizen.

There is no specific legal authority enabling CBSA to conduct searches of electronic devices, rather they rely on unclear sections of the law to support their interpretation that they have such authority.

If you do not want your devices searched, you could either not bring them with you, or ensure you’ve deleted any content from your device and from social media that you don’t want officers to see.

However, if Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents ask questions, it is strongly suggested to provide truthful and answer to questions.

When dealing with border officials the best policy is to answer questions directly without going into any unnecessary detail. However, if pressed one should always tell the truth, as any dishonestly could lead to serious problems."

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