this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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DHS does not deny strong-arming tourist into letting them into his phone, only that agents sent him home because of a meme

The story circulating online — first in Norwegian newspaper Nordlys and then picked up by British tabloids — claims that during Mikkelsen's encounter with the Department of Homeland Security, agents took his phone and found a meme depicting Vance as a bloated, smooth, bald man staring off into the distance.

Mikkelsen claims that the officials threatened to fine him $5,000 or send him to prison for five years if he refused to provide them with his phone password. The tourist ultimately agreed to hand over his information, allowing agents to look through his phone.

The reports picked up enough steam in headlines and on social media to justify CBP putting out a statement denying parts of the story.

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[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago

LOL, talk about the Streisand effect. Was this some fan of Taco getting butthurt that something already viral was on a phone? I guess he just made it even more viral.

🤣

[–] anistorian@lemmy.world 11 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Cool, but ehm… why does the meme look like a bad Magic Eye 3D image ?

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

It's the contrast of his pink head and that particular shade of blue in the background creating an optical illusion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromostereopsis

[–] anistorian@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago

That is pretty damn cool. Thanks for sharing!

[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

Even when you enter China the officials won't check your phone. They just tell you to install their "com.gov.mfa" apk downloaded from a server with invalid SSL certificate and totally not suspicious permissions like:

android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.INTERNET
android.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE
android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android.permission.CAMERA
android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
android.permission.READ_SETTINGS
android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN
android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
android.permission.GET_TASKS
android.permission.RECEIVE_USER_PRESENT
android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
android.permission.VIBRATE
android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW
android.permission.CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO
android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS
android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION_EXTRA_COMMANDS
android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES
android.permission.BLUETOOTH
android.permission.CALL_PHONE
android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
android.permission.PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS
com.asus.msa.SupplementaryDID.ACCESS
com.gov.mfa.permission.SP_NOTIFY_CHANGE
com.coloros.mcs.permission.RECIEVE_MCS_MESSAGE
android.permission.REORDER_TASKS
android.permission.USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT
android.permission.DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION
android.permission.ACCESS_DOWNLOAD_MANAGER
android.permission.LOCAL_MAC_ADDRESS
android.permission.READ_APN_SETTINGS
android.permission.BROADCAST_STICKY
android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
com.gov.mfa.permission.TMF_SHARK
com.gov.mfa.permission.MIPUSH_RECEIVE
android.permission.QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES
android.permission.FLASHLIGHT
android.permission.MOUNT_UNMOUNT_FILESYSTEMS
android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
com.gov.mfa.permission.PROCESS_PUSH_MSG
com.gov.mfa.permission.PUSH_PROVIDER
android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PROJECTION
com.huawei.appmarket.service.commondata.permission.GET_COMMON_DATA

and totally legitimate looking activities like com.tencent.rtmp.video.TXScreenCapture$TXScreenCaptureAssistantActivity , com.tencent.qcloud.logutils.LogActivity and com.tencent.liteav.audio2.permission.PermissionActivity

[–] Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 hour ago

No they don’t. Customs in China is like 2 seconds of them glancing at your passport, looking at you, and stamping it. Literally the fastest I’ve ever got through an airport is in China, both arriving and leaving.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago

Wow, I'd just buy a new phone to install this and only this app if thats what it came down to. One with a removable battery that I could remove the battery between any required usages.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 7 points 14 hours ago

Lol, btw my dad who is still a PRC Citizen had to download an app and install it via .apk, because the Google Play Store doesn't have it, in order to apply for the Passport Renew in the app. Because (1) there is no Embassy in my city, and he'd have to travel 2-3 hours to get to the closest Embassey/Consulate and (2) since Covid, they made appointment process much difficult, and encourage online application instead.

They have do like a face scan using the app. Very futuristic to not have to do it in person, but simultaneously very uncanny and creepy to have essentially the Embassy stepping inside your house with the camera and microphone permissions.

I think he kept the app installed to check on the application progress, so the CCP could've technically heard the political debates about Taiwan and stuff in the house. So yea I'm probably on the watchlists of both PRC and USA for being a dissident, the two most powerful nations in the world doesn't very like dissidents like me who hates authoritarians. Wonderful. If they every go after everyone, I literally have nowhere in the world that can escape from the tentacles of these both these authoritarians. But lucky I'm not that important, so so far, no agent of the government have come after me, yet.

[–] picnic@lemmy.dbzer0.com 26 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I have entered the US around 10x/year and haven't being searched (I'm not saying it doesn't happen, tho), I've visited china multiple times last years and not been asked to install anything, either. Haven't heard about that app install requirement before, any articles about it?

[–] Nalivai@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In around 2019 two of my colleagues were visiting China for business thing, one had Xiaomi phone and wasn't asked to do anything, another had Samsung and his phone was searched.
It's an anecdote, so make of it as you will.

[–] underline960@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe they saw the phone and thought "ah, he's already covered."

Maybe this weird off topic claim isn't being made with intellectual honesty

[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

It's not forced but the paper slip for immigration now is online, so it's this app or the mini app inside WeChat (or waiting a couple hours in the line for the clerk that basically signs up a WeChat for you and inserts your data in the MFA mini app)

[–] umbraroze@slrpnk.net 9 points 1 day ago (4 children)

android.permission.FLASHLIGHT

*long slow stare* ...but WHY THOUGH?

[–] Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml 1 points 58 minutes ago

Because he’s lying. I travel to China regularly and they don’t give a fuck about my phone. Not once have they done more than just glance at my passport, glance at me, and stamp it and send me on my way.

[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 6 points 20 hours ago

After a quick analysis of the app it looks like used by an activity licensed by a japanese software house that shines it to see if it has a live person in front of the camera or a picture of it. The legitimate use of this in the app it's because you can apply to visa, passports and certificates remotely without the need of going to the embassy (you still need to go in person for identification though, as they don't really trust it)

[–] Nalivai@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 1 day ago

Flashlight on android is actually a flash for camera, if you want to get proper access to the camera you kind of need this one.

[–] Red_October@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

If the secret police are trying to find you, they could turn on your flashlight and make hiding harder?

[–] cyborganism@piefed.ca 180 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Wait... Lemme (ha!) get this straight...

If they want to search your phone or any electronic device when entering the US and you refuse, you get fined 5000$ and get a 5 years prison sentence?????

They don't just deny you entry and send you back?

[–] AlexLost@lemm.ee 11 points 20 hours ago

Remember kids, law enforcement of any kind is legally allowed to lie to you directly without consequence. Call their bluff, every time.

[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 173 points 1 day ago (2 children)

They lied and no one cares apparently

[–] drdalek@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 1 day ago

The CBP is basically an unchained lunatic with a credit card and access to unthinkable networks of treachery. We are no longer living in a time when these rules matter. Judges order are explicitly being ignored, and the Supreme Court is batting away any attempt to even disarm the lunatic.

[–] raltoid@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

That's because US customs and the TSA is not and should not be taken seriously, and they're known to lie about pretty much everything, constantly.

If they ever make a statement, about anything, you can safely assume that the opposite is the actual truth of what they claim.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Well, the times when the US was a reasonable and just country are long past.

[–] BlindFrog@lemmy.world 30 points 1 day ago

When prisons are for-profit --

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 48 points 1 day ago (1 children)

After the agents looked through his phone, he said he was denied entry to the United States and was sent back to Norway.

People keep acting like this is new, it's been like this since 9/11...

If they "suspect" someone, they don't want to just let them walk away if they're right.

So if you don't comply, they assume the worse and detain you and throw some trumped up charges about obstructing. But they don't even have to do that, they literally can (and likely have) ship you straight to Gitmo for life. Hell, cops even make these kinds of threats to US citizens during traffic stops. Law enforcement has been able to just make wild threats to get people to comply for like, forever

Silver lining at least, people are finally realizing this is an insane process and hopefully it's one of the things we get to fix.

Because we sure as shit can't just spend four years discussing if we need to limit all these govermental powers that have been racking up again. If we get the chance to fix shit we have to actually fix it.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 53 points 1 day ago (6 children)

People keep acting like this is new, it's been like this since 9/11...

Haha, man. People have already forgotten that these were temporary measures after 9/11

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[–] nao@sh.itjust.works 40 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Don't bring your regular phone when traveling to countries like China or the US

[–] Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml 1 points 57 minutes ago

Have you been to China? They do none of this shit. They don’t gaf about your phone.

[–] Hubi@feddit.org 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)
  • Create an encrypted backup
  • upload it to a cloud storage of your choice
  • reset your phone
  • once you're past the immigration checkpoint, download the backup and restore it

This is how I've always done it. If anyone asks, say you just bought the device.

[–] BootyBuccaneer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 12 hours ago

Me, nervously holding my 5 year-old phone: Oh, this old thing? I just bought it.

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[–] BeBopaLula@piefed.ca 123 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Moral of the story: Do not go anywhere near the states. It is a fascist country and they will deport you to el salvador lickety-split.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 31 points 1 day ago (2 children)

This is the sad part. My favorite uncle had a special connection to hanauma bay near Waikiki, but my mom can't go there and remember him smiling and laughing and teaching my cousin to swim. We are all afraid that even us whiteboy Canucks will get separated in customs and never be seen again. And we're wipepo from the most polite country on earth!

It's almost assured that, after this term, if Hawaii hasn't separated yet, that she'll be too old to travel $afely. She's getting a little fuddy now, in that she brings it up often, and tells me again for the first time about Uncle's love of Hawaii and h bay ... every time.

Trump's people are dicks

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[–] Headofthebored@lemmy.world 68 points 1 day ago (3 children)

The fact that meme bothers them is hilarious though. Imagine a protest at the Capitol with a huge crowd all carrying big signs with nothing but that meme on it. 😂

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 26 points 1 day ago (3 children)

People keep writing words on posters like fascist can't help but read something they see...

Their brains aren't even recognizing it's text.

But pictures of their leaders edited to exacerbate their worst physical features?

That hits them where it hurts.

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[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 41 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Just a reminder for anyone travelling to the US (or any other totalitarian regime that doesn’t respect right to privacy).

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/how-to-safeguard-your-phone-when-entering-the-us-5-essential-security-tips

I can’t remember the combination of buttons you need to hold down on your iPhone to disable biometric unlocking and to force erase your phone.

Anyone else remember these, and know the equivalent combination for Android devices, please comment.

Keeping multiple devices is the easiest way to get by. Have a burner phone for everyday use when travelling and keep your main phone either at home, or locked and unpowered in your luggage.

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[–] SoupBrick@pawb.social 54 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Time skip 10 years in the future

History Channel: Memes in American History

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They could fine me but I wouldn’t be paying it and they could lock me up but best believe that would be an international incident once my government gets involved, not that I would be travelling to such a hostile nation in the first place.

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