Important information for Irish people planning to travel to New Zealand.
From this week, New Zealand’s customs officials are enforcing a tough new rule at airports that has many passengers vowing never to visit.
After the country became the first to fine passengers who refuse to hand over their phone passwords at the border.
The tough new rule is a result of New Zealand’s Customs and Excise Act 2018, which comes into effect this week.
The act allows customs officials to demand passwords, PINs and encryption keys to unlock devices for “digital strip searches.”
Travellers who refuse to hand over the passwords will be charged up to $NZ5000 (€2,800) and could face having their device confiscated as well as prosecution.
Previously, customs officials could stop anyone at the border and demand to see their devices but until now, people didn't have to provide their password as well.
“We’re not aware of any other country that has legislated for the potential of a penalty to be applied if people do not divulge their passwords,” New Zealand customs spokesman Terry Brown said.
But customs officials won’t be able to access the Cloud, he said.
“It is a file-by-file (search) on your phone. We’re not going into ‘the Cloud’,” Mr Brown told NZTV.
“We’ll examine your phone while it’s on flight mode.”
Officials must have a “reasonable cause to suspect” a device or its owner to warrant the digital search and data may be copied and reviewed.
''Slippery slope.''
But the rule change has been slammed, with many people vowing never to travel to New Zealand from now on.
Travelers arriving in New Zealand could now face a fine of up to $3,200 (5,000 NZD) if they refuse to allow border officials access to their phones or electronic devices https://t.co/9lYqK9wDSi
— CNN (@CNN) October 3, 2018
Why should I travel there? There are over 190 countries to go to and they won’t need to check my cellphone. Or I could just travel around US states.
— Latim Latim (@LatimLatim1) October 3, 2018
This is yet another gross invasion of privacy amid further degradation of our rights and civil liberties by increasingly authoritarian governments - in an age of mass surveillance, in the name of national security and counter-terrorism. #tech #NewZealand #AI #auspol https://t.co/YpB5U10h0M
— Ayrton Evans (@AyrtonEvans_) October 3, 2018
Great, we keep giving up out freedom in exchange of a false sense of security.
— Zolra'ak (@UrmanioGeek) October 3, 2018
New Zealand this week became the first country to fine people for not giving customs officers the passwords to their devices. Refusing to do so now carries a fine of almost $3,300. pic.twitter.com/ZtCmbiSp7V
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 2, 2018
“Wow, taking New Zealand from my bucket list,” one person tweeted.
“What about those who have confidential information on their devices? New Zealand is trash,” another person tweeted.
Someone else pointed out: “So now, you and I need to hand over all our data, while professional or suitably motivated wrongdoers can just upload all stuff to the Cloud and buy a new phone after crossing the border. Am I the only one seeing the police state in this? Not travelling to NZ soon.”
But others were quick to remind people the average traveller may not be affected.
“(It’s) people being detained/searched on suspicious activity. Its not the average traveller,” another person said on Twitter.
“If they then refuse to give the PIN to a device which is believed to have helped in dodgy behaviour they will be fined. They still are able to say no, they just pay the fine.”
