The end of traveler privacy. Russian services officially check laptops and phones

Russian border services have gained the formal right to inspect travelers' phones, tablets and laptops; Refusal to provide the device may result in a fine or arrest, reported the independent Russian portal Nastoyashchee Vremya.

The Russian border services obtained such powers as a result of the amendment to the Law “On the State Border” introduced a few days ago. The new regulations confirm the practice previously used, but this time in a more formalized version – with clearly defined consequences for those who refuse.

Pursuant to the regulations, officers may request that the device be made available for inspection. Refusal, including failure to consent to unlocking the phone, may be considered failure to comply with an official order. In such a case, you may be fined several thousand rubles (1 ruble is equivalent to approximately 4.5 Polish groszy) or up to 15 days in detention. Formally, it is about the ability to “control objects”, which also includes electronic devices.

Experts note that although the new regulations provide a legal framework for the services' activities, they also raise serious constitutional doubts. Access to private correspondence and data usually requires a court decision, whereas at the border the procedure may be shortened to an officer's order. This is not new – inspections of electronic devices have been carried out before, although their legal status remains ambiguous. According to an independent website, the new regulations organize reality rather than create it, which in Russian conditions often means giving official form to solutions previously tested in practice.

The authorities justify the changes by the need to ensure security and counteract smuggling and extremism. Critics, however, argue that the scope of the inspection may be much broader and the procedure itself may be difficult to verify by the person being inspected. As a result, the traveler faces a simple choice: cooperate or risk administrative consequences.

These solutions are part of a broader trend of expanding control over digital data in Russia. Human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, warn that the authorities are increasing services' access to information about users' activities, both online and offline. In this context, the inspection of devices at the border is a direct complement to the surveillance systems already in place in Russia. (PAP)

dri/ rtt/