Executives at major Canadian institutions are warning employees not to visit the United States unless absolutely necessary. According to Bloomberg, at least one institution is telling employees to take “burner” phones with them to prevent U.S. border officials from accessing sensitive data.
A memo issued by the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario CEO Vera Etches encouraged staff not to visit the U.S. at this time, citing “escalation of issues and volatility in the US.” Etches went on to tell staff that if they do visit the U.S., they need to log out of all hospital applications and ensure that no patient data can be accessed on laptops or phones.
Alberta Investment Management Corp., a public pension fund, told staff they can no longer visit the U.S. for business meetings, but may attend board or investor meetings. The Canadian Association of University Teachers is suggesting academics refrain from visiting, especially if they’ve been publicly critical of the U.S., President Donald Trump’s administration, or if their research is “at odds” with U.S. policy.
Privacy concerns appear to be a big part of the issue for Canadian businesses and organizations. Especially when it comes to electronic devices that can be seized and accessed by U.S. border officers.
“There is really no effective legal way for a Canadian resident to challenge the actions of US border officers at a US point of entry,” reads a portion of the warning from the CAUT.
Last week, the Canadian government issued a similar warning, reminding its citizens that U.S. border agents can force international travelers to grant them access to personal devices.
“U.S. border agents are entitled to search your electronic devices, such as your phones, computers or tablets, when you are entering the United States,” reads a portion of the warning. “They don’t need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open your device.
“If you refuse, they may seize your device. The border agent could also delay your travel or deny entry if you are not a U.S. citizen. Before crossing the border, put your device in airplane mode to ensure remote files don’t get downloaded accidentally.”
To combat that issue, Etches suggested that staff that must travel to the U.S. should bring a “burner” phone with them. A burner is typically a device that has very little personal information on it that cannot be easily traced to the individual. Ontario’s University of Waterloo is taking another approach by offering “clean” laptops that allow users to access information without it remaining on the laptop.
The warnings come as more international visitors to the U.S. report being harassed or detained at border crossings. Last month, warnings were issued by Germany and the United Kingdom to its respective residents cautioning them of enhanced scrutiny at border crossings.
