If you’re in the US and a citizen, you do not have to divulge your password to the authorities or even a judge, per the 5th Amendment. However, they can force you to use your fingerprint or FaceID to unlock your phone.
If you think there’s a chance the police might want to search your phone, be sure that you have a difficult pin pattern or password to unlock your phone at a minimum. Consider if bringing your phone is necessary. If you’re going to a protest, do not bring your primary phone. Get a cheap burner or go without.
If you’re not a citizen, you need to think about leaving. Seek asylum anywhere but here. Vacation in Canada. The US is no longer safe for foreigners.
letsgo@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Depends where you’re going. Anywhere first world with a robust democracy that invites opposition and criticism will be safe. Heck in the UK we’ve even got people who openly hate our way of life and want to destroy it.
But if you’re going to one of the less tolerant places where opposing the incumbent can get you in serious trouble, like Russia, North Korea, Iran, or the USA, probably best take a burner phone with some basic stuff on it that can’t possibly be interpreted as any kind of negativity towards the delicate leader and leave your main one switched off somewhere safe at home. In fact unless you enjoy risk it’s probably best to avoid places like that until they get some proper freedoms in place.