France, Denmark, Germany, and Ireland Join Canada in Urging Travelers to Use Burner Phones at US Borders Amid Digital Surveillance and Detention Fears: New Update You Need to Know

Published on April 18, 2025

By: Rana Pratap

In a major escalation of international travel precautions, France, Denmark, Germany, and Ireland have joined Canada in advising their citizens to use burner phones when entering the United States, citing growing fears of digital surveillance and arbitrary border detentions. The coordinated warnings reflect mounting concern over reports that U.S. border agents are inspecting personal devices, accessing private data, and detaining travelers based on digital content—prompting a wave of new travel protocols across Europe and North America.

In a sweeping move that signals a new level of concern over data privacy, France, Denmark, Germany, and Ireland have joined Canada in updating their travel advisories for the United States. All five nations are now urging their citizens to travel with burner phones and take extra digital precautions when entering the U.S., citing increased incidents of invasive surveillance and border detentions.

This collective action marks a historic shift in diplomatic posture toward U.S. border procedures, traditionally seen as robust but predictable. Now, European nations are equating digital risk at U.S. borders with high-surveillance countries, recommending precautions once reserved for adversarial states.

Why the Sudden Shift?

Recent reports have revealed widespread inspections of travelers’ personal devices by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These include unauthorized access to emails, social media accounts, photos, and private communications, even in the absence of a criminal warrant. Such scrutiny has led to an uptick in travelers being detained, questioned, or denied entry based on digital content found during inspection.

In response, several European governments have updated their travel guidelines, warning citizens that bringing personal smartphones, laptops, or tablets across the U.S. border may put their privacy at risk.

Burner Phones: Now a Recommended Travel Essential

At the heart of the new advisories is the explicit recommendation to use burner phones or temporary devices. These low-cost, limited-function phones allow travelers to communicate and access essential services without exposing sensitive personal or professional data to border officials.

Travelers are also being advised to:

• Wipe personal data from all devices before travel
• Avoid logging into personal email or social media accounts while in the U.S.
• Use encrypted cloud storage instead of local files
• Minimize device use at customs to reduce exposure

Canada Leads, Europe Follows

Canada was among the first to tighten its advisory, announcing a new registration requirement for Canadians staying in the U.S. longer than 30 days, starting April 11, 2025. Canadian legal experts have also begun recommending burner phones to avoid border complications linked to device searches.

Shortly after, France, Germany, Denmark, and Ireland followed suit, each revising their official guidance and warning citizens about the increasing unpredictability of U.S. border enforcement.

EU Deploys Burner Phones for Diplomats

On the institutional side, the European Union has begun issuing burner phones and stripped-down laptops to its officials traveling to the U.S., a practice typically reserved for high-risk countries like Russia or China. The move underscores how seriously Europe now views digital surveillance risks in the U.S.—and marks the first time such protocols are being applied to an allied nation.

According to updated internal protocols, EU officials are now barred from bringing personal devices and must use secure, pre-cleared hardware when traveling for official purposes to the United States.

Border Incidents Driving Global Policy Changes

The policy changes stem from a growing number of border incidents involving device inspections and detentions. In several cases, travelers were allegedly questioned or refused entry due to their online activity, political views, or even text message content.

These incidents have triggered widespread concern about freedom of expression, data protection, and due process, leading to a ripple effect across Europe and North America.

What Travelers Should Know Now

If you’re a traveler from Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, or Denmark, or if you’re concerned about digital privacy at the U.S. border, consider these best practices:

• Use burner phones and basic laptops with minimal data
• Log out of all personal accounts and use incognito browsers if access is necessary
• Back up all data to the cloud and wipe devices before travel
• Avoid storing sensitive, political, or professional information on any hardware
• Comply strictly with all visa requirements and documentation
• Expect longer wait times if carrying multiple devices or if flagged by CBP

France, Denmark, Germany, and Ireland have joined Canada in advising travelers to use burner phones at U.S. borders due to rising fears of digital surveillance, device inspections, and unexpected detentions. The move follows reports of border agents accessing personal data and denying entry based on digital content.

A New Era of Caution in Transatlantic Travel

The coordinated action by Canada and key EU countries reflects a broader transformation in global travel norms, where digital security is now considered as critical as physical safety.

The normalization of burner phones and data hygiene practices may signal the beginning of a long-term shift in how personal technology is treated at borders, particularly as surveillance capabilities continue to expand and international trust continues to erode.

What was once viewed as paranoia is quickly becoming protocol—and travelers around the world are being forced to weigh convenience against control in an increasingly monitored world.