OTTAWA: A report indicates an increase in the inspection of electronic devices at the U.S. border. U.S. Customs officials are widely checking travelers’ electronic devices, including phones and computers. Between April and July 2025, 14,899 devices were inspected, marking the highest increase since 2018. The number of inspections nearly doubled during this period.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website, only 0.01% of the 400 million travelers’ devices are inspected. Of those inspected, 78% are not U.S. citizens. The CBP says these inspections help in detecting crimes like terrorism and human trafficking. However, concerns have been raised that these actions may violate privacy.
Meanwhile, the federal government has advised Canadian citizens traveling to the U.S. to fully cooperate with border officials.
