I'm guessing what happened was something like the following:
- They asked him what he did for work (as they pretty much always do at a border crossing, in my experience).
- He said he developed software.
- They asked what kind of software.
- He said CryptoCat.
- The officer, knowing that there are export restrictions on cryptography, gave him a longer secondary interview.
I don't think they're targeting anyone here, though I wonder just how much knowledge the interviewer had about cryptography specifically.
Disclaimer: Never been to the US, don't plan to do it, limited insight into the laws over there.
How are export restrictions relevant for people entering the country? Aren't US export restrictions only affecting US citizens or corporations? According to his twitter page that guys from Montreal / Beirut? And how does the whole idea of export restrictions for decentralized internet projects work?
I do believe this might've been blown out of proportions, but your answer seems a little too naive/easy, from this armchair here.
Actually, he was leaving the country[1], but I'm pretty sure that's ultimately beside the point. I have sincere doubts that cryptography was the reason for his detainment. By his own admission he had been detained four times in the previous three weeks[2]. Tweets quite often in support of Wikileaks/Assange/Manning, hails from Lebanon[3], makes strong indications that he is an activist, and just got done speaking at a human rights conference[4] - I have a hard time believing they stopped him because he wrote an encrypted chat program.
Did they ask him about cryptography? They probably did, but I'd bet dollars to donuts he brought it up first.
Interesting, I didn't realize he had been detained so much. It does make one wonder how much detaining "activist" types actually helps anything though.
Also, do we know if he was detained by USCBP or CBSA (i.e. Canadian Customs)? You did mention he was detained as he was leaving the country, and unless they were running a special program that day (which happens every so often), usually the US side doesn't examine people leaving.
Agree. I took my mother to the airport last year(we live in Csnada drove her across border to detroit). We ended up in immigration for two hours. She has visited the states many times before but this time they decided to give a hard time. They ask EVERYTHING. So it wouldnt suprise me if it playe out just how you described.
Agreed. I think this incident has been blown way out of proportion. I am disappointed it has received so much attention ... the news article doesn't even give voice or opportunity to comment to anyone other than the complainer in the story. ....
- They asked him what he did for work (as they pretty much always do at a border crossing, in my experience). - He said he developed software. - They asked what kind of software. - He said CryptoCat. - The officer, knowing that there are export restrictions on cryptography, gave him a longer secondary interview.
I don't think they're targeting anyone here, though I wonder just how much knowledge the interviewer had about cryptography specifically.