Over 787 million travelers entered the U. S. in 2016 and 2017,47,400 of whom had their electronic devices subject to a search, including “advanced searches.” Unlike a basic search, which involves visually checking phones, laptops, etc. without downloading anything, advanced…
Over 787 million travelers entered the U. S. in 2016 and 2017,47,400 of whom had their electronic devices subject to a search, including “advanced searches.” Unlike a basic search, which involves visually checking phones, laptops, etc. without downloading anything, advanced searches consist of downloading data onto USB drives and plugging them into CBP’s Automated Targeting System so it can be analyzed.
According to an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report, many customs officials are failing to delete travelers’ information from these drives following an advanced search.
