Chris,

It's weird but true: today in Canada, border officials can search travelers' phones and laptops at will, without a court order or even reasonable suspicion.

The Public Safety Minister has refused to stop these warrantless digital strip searches.¹

That's why we're pressuring Parliament to stop border officials from rooting through our photos and emails on the thinnest of pretenses. And we're running ads and sharing videos to let travelers know how to complain about this clear invasion of their privacy.

We're running ads to stop digital strip searches at the border. Wil...

For far too long, the Canadian Border Services Agency has been searching phones and laptops at the border without warrants or any clear guidelines. If a traveler refuses to unlock a device, they could face fines, seizure of their device, or even arrest.²

The situation is so bad that the B.C. Civil Liberties Association said that travelers can protect their privacy only by wiping all sensitive information from their devices before setting out for Canada!³

Last year, MPs called on Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to stipulate the conditions under which a border agent may search a device, but he refused.

So now OpenMedia is launching a two-pronged effort: pressuring Parliament to update our privacy laws to include digital technology, and telling travelers how they can report abuse. We're buying up huge ad space in transit stations and at the airports so that thousands of people preparing to cross the border can see our message.

Will you chip in to stop digital strip searches at the border?