It's not difficult to attract the attention of government officials, especially if you have a relatively high profile in business, political activism, or journalism. That can lead to difficulty crossing borders, even in countries with relatively firm civil liberties protections, such as the United States. Officials at border crossings often have powers beyond those of police within the country, meaning that even returning citizens might have to submit to searches of their possessions and their electronic devices. But travelers can take steps to keep information safe and beyond the reach of nosy enforcers.

Growing Scrutiny at the Border

"A growing number of news reports indicate that travelers heading to the US are facing scrutiny at the border, with some subjected to electronic-device searches," Sarah Grevy Gotfredsen of the Columbia Journalism Review reported in April. Gotfredsen cited the case of Jeremy Dupin, a documentary filmmaker who, upon returning to the U.S. from a trip to Haiti, was interrogated and pressured to provide his phone password.