]I would disagree with this, provided however that you independently encrypt the data you have on a cloud service, and keep the decryption keys exclusively stored locally. This is especially true in the context of border crossings. In general, you are going to be subject to having electronic devices searched at every border crossing throughout the world, and as the OP points out, in some cases you may be compelled to give up passwords and decryption keys to files stored locally. However, in general (as is the case in the US), your cloud data is not subject to search when you cross boarders.
Congress Passes CLOUD Act Governing Cross-Border Law Enforcement Access to Data
Yahoo $250,000 daily fine over NSA data refusal was set to double 'every weekWhen it is on the cloud it is easy to copy the data. Even when it is encrypted it allows them to store the data forever. To be decrypted at a later stage.
It only takes a law-change, a backdoor, technological breakthrough or court issued warrant to compel you to hand over the encryption keys.
It really depends on the nature of the data.
Just a few reasons to be careful:
Countries change:
President Trump late Saturday escalated his rhetoric in urging supporters to support Republicans in the midterm elections, warning that Democrats have become "too extreme and too dangerous to govern."
Source:
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/410272-trump-attacks-dems-as-too-dangerous-to-govern-in-plea-for-gop-midtermThis may only be rhetoric - but it could also turn into something else.
Sexual persecution:
In Russia same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults in private was decriminalized in 1993.
Russian gay propaganda law was introduced in 2013
In January 2016, the State Duma rejected a proposal by the Communist Party to punish people who publicly express their homosexuality with fines and arrests.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_gay_propaganda_lawhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adultery#Punishmenthttp://www.futurescopes.com/romance/love-and-sex/3243/countries-where-sex-outside-marriage-crimeReligious reasons:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians#Current_situation_(1989_to_present)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Muslims#Current_situation_(1989_to_present)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_atheistsFinancial reasons:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_bitcoin_by_country_or_territoryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_6102"Dangerous MEMEs"
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Frussian%2Fnews-45062731When I asked a Russian friend what their border policy was - whether they can seize your laptop or phone and require you to disclose your password.
He smiled and said " They don't need a password"
It made me think:
While they may be living in a less democratic regime - I very much doubt that the spying that goes on is much different.
They may require you to give them your password but it only makes it
easier for them.
I think perception is the difference. Sometimes I wonder if we live in delusional freedom when we have so much of our privacy stripped away.