Will airport security (Australia specifically) check for pirated content?

Andiama@lemmy.world to Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ@lemmy.dbzer0.com – 70 points –

Indonesian moving to Australia soon, I'm just concerned my laptop/phone will be checked for pirated content.

The general rule of thumb I've seen around the internet is "encrypt your drive", which is easy enough. But the other approach typically says "bring a burner phone / laptop" which of course isn't viable in my case.

Can anyone confirm on the legitimacy of these claims? I know I pirate light (""light"" compared to the vets here), but I'm just so paranoid that I could be held up and sent back home, because this might be my only shot.

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Aussie here. They have the right to go through all your devices if they suspect you of smuggling or working or wanting to work illegally in Australia. They will read through all your private messages and have them translated if not in English. Even then I've never heard of airport security giving a rat's ass about pirated stuff.

Wow, that is insane, i didnt know Australia does that.

This is my understanding. They can review devices, buy pirate materials are not illegal, so I don't think they would care.

Owning pirated materials is likely illegal in Australia, but it's not what border security are looking for so you're right they wouldn't care.

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