Refusing to disclose passwords for digital devices during forced searches could put travellers entering New Zealand at risk of prosecution and a fine of more than $3,000.
According to the border security of New Zealand, the country becomes the first to impose such restrictions.
“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.”Terry Brown, a New Zealand Customs spokesman to The New York Times
The law that was passed in year 2017 came in to effect on 1 October 2018.
Earlier the customs officers were legally permitted to search digital devices, but the travellers were not compelled to open their devices until now.
The law stands the same for both tourists and New Zealand citizens returning to the country. Any device would be liable to confiscation if preliminary searches makes it warranted, reported The New York Times.
“The bill provides for that power of search and examination, but in order to exercise that power, a customs officer, first of all, has to be satisfied, or at least to have a reasonable suspicion, that a person in possession of such a device – it would be a cellphone or a laptop or anything else that might be described as an ‘e-device’ – has been involved in criminal offending.”Andrew Little, Minister of Justice, New Zealand explained to a parliamentary committee earlier this year as reported by The Register
According to a report by The New York Times, civil liberties advocates opposed the step stating that digital devices contain more private information than the luggage and should be subjected to greater protection.
(With inputs from The New York Times and The Register.)
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