Australian Visitors Must Declare Illegal Porn To Customs Officers 361
Australian Justice Minister Brendan O'Connor has advised visitors to take a better safe than sorry policy when it comes to their porn stashes, and declare all porn that they think might be illegal with customs officers. From the article: "The government said it changed the wording on passenger arrival cards after becoming aware of confusion among travellers about what pornography to declare. 'People have a right to privacy and while some pornography is legal and does not need to be disclosed, all travellers should be aware that certain types of pornography are illegal and must be declared to customs,' Mr O'Connor said."
That's Australia for you. (Score:3, Informative)
Someone isn't very smart (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Expectation of privacy (Score:4, Informative)
Not a valid defence in England [bbc.co.uk]
Re:self-incrimination (Score:2, Informative)
You think the US is any different?
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch12.html#en_US_publink1000172062
Form 1040, line 21 is where you are to report your earnings from illegal income.
Re:Someone isn't very smart (Score:3, Informative)
It's so they can fire you for lying on your job application.
~Loyal
Re:Someone isn't very smart (Score:5, Informative)
I think the person creating the application form was actually quite clever as two positive (for the company) things happen this way: 1) it weeds out the idiots who admit to taking illicit drugs with some regularity and 2) it makes it much easier to fire someone for lying on their application if the employer finds out they are on illicit drugs.
As for customs, when you enter the US there is a section that literally asks if you're a spy. I hope they're not catching too many idiots that way but it does create a situation where someone who is a spy can be convicted for lying to the government. I figure the same idea applies to declaring illegal porn.
Re:Expectation of privacy (Score:3, Informative)
There are cultural ways to indicate that you don't want to be talked to. Your friend just didn't know them.
Re:Expectation of privacy (Score:3, Informative)
US courts have specifically ruled that the Fourth Amendment doesn't apply crossing international borders.
This expectation of no-privacy going through customs has even been used to justify warrantless searches of someone who is merely near an international border.
Re:Expectation of privacy (Score:3, Informative)
Thanks, I don't know US law precident in this but "Americans have an expectation of privicy" just made me chuckle wrt customs&immigration.
It may be why US customs are some of the worst in the world I have been through (although it may just be low paid grumpy staff). Actually most cutoms are pretty bad but US is getting silly. UK ones are great (but I'm a from the UK). The same holds for mot nationals entering thier home country.
the title is a little misleading (Score:3, Informative)
I am Australian, and have read quite a few stories press releases etc on this subject. The BIG problem with these cards is, illegal to "import" and illegal to "posses" in australia is different. Meaning while it might be legal to own some types in Australia, it's illegal to bring them in (ie import) into the country, and they don't tell you what is what, This is one of the main reasons there has been a large uproar over the issue down under.
There's two set's of rules, they aren't telling you which one is which, and don't give good examples, it's basically a trap
Re:What???? (Score:3, Informative)
The whole point of customs is to stop the stuff coming into the country - that's all. As long as you declare it and hand it over, that's as far as it goes.