Travel

Questions tagged [privacy]

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Questions about the differing expectations regarding private space, private activities, etc, in foreign cultures while travelling.

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3
votes
1answer
266 views

What information is encoded in an American passport's numeric code along the bottom of the front information page?

At the bottom of the photo page of an American passport is a bunch of alphanumeric information interspersed with right facing angle brackets (>). What information does this code contain?
3
votes
0answers
200 views

UK Public Health Passenger Locator Form: Privacy and Data Retention Period

How long is any information supplied through the UK Public Health Passenger Locator Form kept for, when some EU citizen travels from the EU to England by plane, as of now (or 12 July 2020: it doesn't ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views

Data retention for EU citizens travelling between UK and EU during Brexit transition/implementation period

Context: I'm an EU citizen studying in the UK. When I travel to my home country in the EU (for example through a direct flight or by train), and then return to the UK, some of my personal information ...
1
vote
0answers
62 views

Data retention for EU citizens travelling between UK and EU during Brexit transition/implementation period

Context: I'm an EU citizen studying in the UK. When I travel to my home country in the EU (for example through a direct flight or by train), and then return to the UK, some of my personal information ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views

Passenger Name List (PNL) Accessibility

Does anyone know if a previous flight's passenger name list or passenger name record (PNL or PNR) is publicly accessible? Edit: I was asking in order to see the number of passengers on the plane ...
28
votes
4answers
8k views

Why are airline websites blocking access through Tor?

I tried opening the home pages of a few airline websites through the Tor browser and instead of the home page all I see is a low-key page with "Access Denied". Why would airlines want to prevent ...
9
votes
5answers
477 views

Traveling to a country known for mass surveillance. How can I protect my data/privacy?

In the next year I will likely go to China, USA and a couple other countries. Both China and the US are known to sometimes take your electronics when arriving and searching them, possibly even ...
17
votes
3answers
1k views

Why do Turkish Airlines gate agents at Istanbul Airport take photos of passenger passports?

The gate agents of Turkish Airlines have point-and-shoot digital cameras with which they take photos of passenger passports. They did not ask for permission to do that nor provided a reason. Any idea ...
10
votes
2answers
6k views

Is it safe to roam with girlfriend in India on February 14? [closed]

Many videos and news articles of the past says that couples who roam freely on Valentine's Day, are subjected to moral policing and the media will cover such incidents, which leads to public insult. ...
6
votes
1answer
174 views

What can border guards check on your smart phone when entering USA?

I don't travel much but have heard lots of horror stories about entering into the USA. What exactly can the border guards check in your smart phone when entering the USA? I use mine a lot and it's ...
2
votes
0answers
268 views

How are laptop searches conducted at immigration/customs/border check points? [closed]

I understand that in some countries, electronic devices can be searched at customs and border check points. I would like to understand how this check is done technically. I.e., do they just turn it ...
2
votes
1answer
414 views

Why do attendants wear a body cam on China southern airlines?

On a flight from Sydney to Guangzhou I noticed an attendant on a China Southern airline wear a body cam on two of his 'rounds'. Sadly, I wasn't able to get a photo of the guy. One was about 40 minutes ...
12
votes
2answers
3k views

Privacy disadvantages of 'frequent flyer miles' program

I am flying quite often, but never signed up for frequent flyer miles card. I am skeptic about my privacy. I also don't understand very well how frequent flyer miles work. With a search engine I ...
1
vote
1answer
196 views

Is there an anonymized credit card for hotel stays?

Is there a way to get an anonymized credit card for hotel stays? The reason I ask is that recently I have noticed hotels getting more and more invasive about my private life. This is no paranoid ...
10
votes
1answer
627 views

Should I use a “burner” phone when visiting the US?

I'm a New Zealand citizen and I might soon be visiting to the US on short notice for business. I've heard that the US have started to frequently search cellphones. I'm not very comfortable handing ...
1
vote
1answer
538 views

How to ensure privacy and safety in hotels of India?

I do a moderate number of travels with my girlfriend and use good hotels (with a minimum 3 star rating) to stay for single/multiple days. We feel insecure to do intimate tasks such as foreplay, sex ...
6
votes
3answers
705 views

How to prevent people from reading what's on my phone when I'm on public transportation with them?

This is inspired by a question on IPS: I have a habit of checking my messages, call data or Stack Exchange stuff that I missed and other social media stuff while I'm traveling using public ...
66
votes
3answers
21k views

Why were holes drilled into my luggage when I entered the US?

Around a month ago, I entered the US for the first time. A couple of days back, I was reorganizing stuff, and happened to notice three holes: punched into the side of the bag I had used while ...
8
votes
1answer
535 views

How can I avoid being shown in a border control reality show?

Many countries now have popular reality shows which are filmed at immigration control (e.g. Australia, Canada, and the UK). These programs film both ordinary and scandalous events, and there is at ...
6
votes
2answers
428 views

UK border crossing and electronic privacy: What do I need to know as a visitor?

One notices on Border/Immigration programs that the USA and Canada do sometimes request access to your cell phone, laptop, and/or social media information at the airport. It's also all over the news ...
16
votes
2answers
540 views

What are the consequences of a US citizen denying encryption key to the CBP?

I am considering to travel out of the US. However, being a brown person, I am concerned about the recent actions of the US Customs and Border Protection. I strongly believe in digital privacy and 0% ...
15
votes
1answer
2k views

Legality of cameras in vacation/holiday home?

I'm currently staying in a property in Portugal (Almancil) that has several Verisure cameras inside and outside of the house. I have seen the panel light up red on a few random occasions which led to ...
22
votes
6answers
8k views

Can airport security in Israel force me to provide my access credentials to laptop or online accounts?

I've read that going through airport security at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport can sometimes be a nightmare. Being asked a bunch of questions and having someone going through your every ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views

Flying with Iberia, can I carry both a piece of hand-luggage and a backpack?

okay yesterday i asked a question about how to carry my passport. i got so many suggestions, that i went and bought one bag but after i showed it to you, you told me it is still not secure. so i ...
11
votes
4answers
6k views

Is there a bag I can use to safely carry my passport and ID whilst travelling?

First of all sorry for these stupid questions, but normally my boyfriend took care of all these stuff, now I am traveling alone for the first time. When I go to the airport, they will put my bag ...
9
votes
2answers
596 views

Carrying confidential corporate data into US on laptop/Drive/device - how to prevent data theft?

If I travel to the US and had privacy concerns (for instance may be I was afraid that a rogue customs official may steal said data) what is the current recommended best practice to avoid this?
61
votes
6answers
171k views

Why do public toilets in the US have large gaps (no privacy)?

Most public toilets in the US are very low in privacy, the bottom gap in the door is so big (around 15-20% of the door), the side gaps are too big as well. This will make the toilet experience so ...
8
votes
1answer
10k views

Are there cameras inside toilets in aeroplanes and in airports? [closed]

I was on the seat in my plane today when this thought arose. Is it possible that air carriers have cameras fitted inside planes? Similarly is it legal for governments to have cameras fitted inside ...
12
votes
5answers
3k views

Correct reasons for opting out of millimetre wave scanners

Having travelled through SFO a few times, and each time been asked to go through a millimetre wave (or backscatter) scanner, and each time 'opted out' and gone for the search (in public), I'd like to ...

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