Aust customs searching iPhone??

[kkl]

Arrived at PER from Bkk, we a couple mid 20s. We had our phones taken into a room to check for child coughography.

As we were arriving from Thailand, a hot country for such crime. Took about 10minutes for the phones to be returned.

Has anyone encountered this before?

Surely we don't fit their 'typical profile' of a child sex offender

 

[nlagalle]

Arrived at PER from Bkk, we a couple mid 20s. We had our phones taken into a room to check for child coughography.

As we were arriving from Thailand, a hot country for such crime. Took about 10minutes for the phones to be returned.

Has anyone encountered this before?

Surely we don't fit their 'typical profile' of a child sex offender

Could happen to anyone. I don't think there is a "typical profile" for a child sex offender.

 

[DrA]

Possible they got a tip-off and were checking out anyone who fit the tip-off profile. Happens all the time.

 

[PLC]

It happened to me once. I was taken aside, as was a Thai Buddhist monk!

 

[acoolbreeze]

No such thing as a typical profile really.
Just like a drug courier can be a 70 years old female, sex offenders can be this;

Police arrest missing Frankston couple

Just be patient and polite and you're on your way. It was 10 minutes out of your day.

 

[marki]

I had no idea they could search a phone like that must be legal then?

 

[mannej]

I had no idea they could search a phone like that must be legal then?

I am guessing it falls under the same legislation that enables them to search laptops etc.

 

[Sprucegoose]

It happened to me once. I was taken aside, as was a Thai Buddhist monk!

Those monks have been known to play up!

 

[amaroo]

I had no idea they could search a phone like that must be legal then?

IIRC thats how they busted some of the NRL druggies.....searched phones as they were coming back from games in NZ.

 

[bass_ke]

S.186 Customs Act concerns powers of examination. As folks have stated there isn't a typical profile when it comes to these things

 

[anat0l]

I assume you had to unlock the phones (or provide unlock passwords) for them to inspect it? Otherwise, the procedure would be of limited effectiveness.

 

[mushypeas]

what if youre travelling with a corporate and secured smartphone, surely they cannot be provided access to a device with access to corporate/commercial in confidence info?

 

[JessicaTam]

what if youre travelling with a corporate and secured smartphone, surely they cannot be provided access to a device with access to corporate/commercial in confidence info?

I expect they could, in much the same way they could ask to inspect a briefcase containing sensitive (paper) documents.

 

[bass_ke]

I assume you had to unlock the phones (or provide unlock passwords) for them to inspect it? Otherwise, the procedure would be of limited effectiveness.

I'd imagine the device would be withheld pending examination.

 

[NM]

what if youre travelling with a corporate and secured smartphone, surely they cannot be provided access to a device with access to corporate/commercial in confidence info?

I expect most corporate policies (for companies that have such policy) is to comply with requests/demands from official law enforcement personnel and then to report it to you manager or corporate security management.

 

[kkl]

Had to give iphone passwords. Funny thing is they didn't check iPad or laptop?

 

[froggerADL]

Had to give iphone passwords. Funny thing is they didn't check iPad or laptop?

I expect they just needed to make a couple of calls!

 

[Simo]

Could happen to anyone. I don't think there is a "typical profile" for a child sex offender.

There is no profile for a child sex offender.

This is also a concern as if you have children there is sometimes images that could be classified and low level pictures. IE Child in a bikini or swimwear. Sad but true.

 

[JohnK]

I did get my phone taken away a fair few years ago. Forget whether it was PER or BNE.

They first took phone from me and then came back later and asked me to switch it on.

I know they have the power to do it but I hate being treated like a criminal. What is on my phone is personal whether it'd be photos or sms. I don't buy they are just doing their job. My few experiences with customs officers coming back into the country is they are lowlifes and the job suits them perfectly.