The Canadian government is warning citizens visiting the US that border officials have the authority to search travelers’ electronic devices, including phones and laptops, without providing a reason. This can lead to risks such as device seizure, travel delays, or denial of entry for non-US citizens. To prepare, Canadians are advised to place their devices in airplane mode before crossing the border to prevent unintended downloads.
Recent incidents have raised concerns about the practice. In one case, a Lebanese doctor was deported after US agents discovered deleted photos of Iranian leaders on her phone. The US Supreme Court has upheld this practice, citing the “border search exception” to the Fourth Amendment as a justification for warrantless device searches.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/05/world/canada-travel-advisory-us-electronic-devices-intl-latam/index.html