If you’re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone.

But you may want to also consider something new – who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border.

Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024.

Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data?

In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions.


GUEST:Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times

RELATED LINKS: 
Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy
Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know
Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

 

If you&rsquo;re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone.
But you may want to also consider something new &ndash; who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border.
Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024.
Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data?
In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions. 
GUEST: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/gabe-castro-root">Gabe Castro-Root</a>, New York Times
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/travel/airport-border-phone-search.html">Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/travel/us-travel-border-customs-visa-trump.html">Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices">Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Soundside

It's still unlikely you'll be searched: but if you are, what should you know about keeping your data private and secure? 