Visas and border crossings forum
Laptop Searching at Customs
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
Welcome to Travelfish, original Asia travel intelligence you can trust
Menu
swebb92101
Joined Travelfish
3rd March, 2012
Location United States
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
I've read that you cannot enter Thailand with pornography. Is there any chance they will actually search your laptop or cellphone for all images, videos, links, etc? Of course I have porn on my laptop and none of it is illegal by US standards. Does that mean I need to delete everything prior to arrival/ Thanks so much for any help.
#1 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 17:05
neosho
Joined Travelfish
13th August, 2008
Posts 340
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
So far I've never had a problem with a laptop search here. I have had to boot everything up going back into the US once. I guess I fit the profile. Older, single male traveling in SE Asia. They were mainly searching for kiddie porn though. Can't tell you what to do as I don't have to worry about it anyway.
#2 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 18:19
Advertisement
busylizzy
Joined Travelfish
31st December, 2007
Location New Zealand
Posts 1873
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
If in doubt take it off your laptop before you go. Thai's may have different standards in the US, and why take the chance of having an unnecessary headache on arrival?
Having said that, I've never had my laptop checked anywhere - in US, NZ, or Asia. But as a female, maybe I don't fit the profile either!
#3 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 18:38
------------------------------
As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.
sayadian
Joined Travelfish
15th January, 2008
Posts 1412
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
The only place they routinely check out the contents of your laptop that I can think of is Saudi Arabia but I doubt anyone is thinking of a tourist trip there.I have brought stuff through Thailand that might be considered under the 'Lese Majeste' laws but I've never been stopped
#4 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 19:01
------------------------------
money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'
swebb92101
Joined Travelfish
3rd March, 2012
Location United States
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Thank you all for the feedback. It sounds like I have nothing to worry about. I'll be traveling around the world and I would hate to delete stuff that will come in handy (haha!) throughout my year long journey.
#5 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 20:54
UsTwo
Joined Travelfish
22nd April, 2010
Posts 63
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Many years ago, in the days of apartheid, I worked on a mining job with a few Seth Efricans. One in particular was expletive obnoxious, and caused no end of trouble. Finally, the manager told him to wake up to himself, or he would send him packing back home, and would take out a subscription to the Kings' Cross Whisper, to be delivered to his home address. He promptly shut up, and behaved himself.
Do you have any fun-loving friends who might have a word to the authorities?
#6 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 22:05
swebb92101
Joined Travelfish
3rd March, 2012
Location United States
Posts 9
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
I don't quite follow, but no I don't have any friends that would have a word with the authorities. I'm a law abiding citizen and mean to ill will toward anyone and just want to follow the laws of the countries I visit and show the up-most respect.
#7 Posted: 3/3/2012 - 22:23
tyler
Joined Travelfish
7th December, 2010
Location Canada
Posts 199
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
@swebb92101
I have never had a laptop searched and have been to SEA multiple times. Like a previous post - I have also had to boot it up but never had it searched. If you do delete what you have I don't think you'll have a problem replacing it in Thailand!
@UsTwo
WTF are you talking about?
#8 Posted: 4/3/2012 - 06:48
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5072
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
UsTwo
Please tell me you were on crack before you posted.
#9 Posted: 4/3/2012 - 09:07
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
chrisasia20-
12
Joined Travelfish
4th March, 2012
Posts 3
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Ha ha, funny! The only solution I can think of if you really can't go without your "x-files" is to hide them in a Truecrypt container (www.truecrypt.org), it's free software.
Make sure to create an normal and a hidden container that has a different password, so even if the authorities search your laptop and make you open the file you can enter the password of the normal container that could contain harmless files. You could plausibly deny the existence of the hidden one. Got it?
That's the nerdy totally secure I'm-Taking-My-Porn-To-Asia style. Have fun!
#10 Posted: 4/3/2012 - 12:57
Advertisement
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5072
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Although taking porn to SEA is like taking sand to the beach.
#11 Posted: 5/3/2012 - 02:03
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani