US plans to demand cellphone and social media passwords from foreign visitors

By Canadian Press

Published: May 30, 2017 at 12:56 PM

Chiang Mai, Thailand - March 28, 2016: hand holding screen shot of Facebook application showing on Asus Zenfone 2 mobile phone with green bokeh backgroundcellphone passwords

Canadas privacy czar is sounding the alarm over apparent US plans to demand cellphone and social media passwords from foreign visitors.

Canada's privacy czar is sounding the alarm over apparent U-S plans to demand cellphone and social media passwords from foreign visitors.

Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien warns that recent pronouncements from the Trump administration could mean intrusive searches -- even at pre-clearance facilities in Canada.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that visitors to the U-S could be forced to provide cellphone contacts and social-media passwords, even at a Canadian airport.

The Commons public safety committee is studying legislation that would expand existing pre-clearance operations.

Under the bill, U-S searches at those facilities would be governed by Canadian law, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

But Therrien says those protections appear to be toothless.