this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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DHS does not deny strong-arming tourist into letting them into his phone, only that agents sent him home because of a meme

The story circulating online — first in Norwegian newspaper Nordlys and then picked up by British tabloids — claims that during Mikkelsen's encounter with the Department of Homeland Security, agents took his phone and found a meme depicting Vance as a bloated, smooth, bald man staring off into the distance.

Mikkelsen claims that the officials threatened to fine him $5,000 or send him to prison for five years if he refused to provide them with his phone password. The tourist ultimately agreed to hand over his information, allowing agents to look through his phone.

The reports picked up enough steam in headlines and on social media to justify CBP putting out a statement denying parts of the story.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Cool, but ehm… why does the meme look like a bad Magic Eye 3D image ?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It's the contrast of his pink head and that particular shade of blue in the background creating an optical illusion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromostereopsis

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

That is pretty damn cool. Thanks for sharing!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

They could fine me but I wouldn’t be paying it and they could lock me up but best believe that would be an international incident once my government gets involved, not that I would be travelling to such a hostile nation in the first place.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

Even when you enter China the officials won't check your phone. They just tell you to install their "com.gov.mfa" apk downloaded from a server with invalid SSL certificate and totally not suspicious permissions like:

android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.INTERNET
android.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE
android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android.permission.CAMERA
android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
android.permission.READ_SETTINGS
android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN
android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
android.permission.GET_TASKS
android.permission.RECEIVE_USER_PRESENT
android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
android.permission.VIBRATE
android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW
android.permission.CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO
android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS
android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION_EXTRA_COMMANDS
android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES
android.permission.BLUETOOTH
android.permission.CALL_PHONE
android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
android.permission.PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS
com.asus.msa.SupplementaryDID.ACCESS
com.gov.mfa.permission.SP_NOTIFY_CHANGE
com.coloros.mcs.permission.RECIEVE_MCS_MESSAGE
android.permission.REORDER_TASKS
android.permission.USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT
android.permission.DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION
android.permission.ACCESS_DOWNLOAD_MANAGER
android.permission.LOCAL_MAC_ADDRESS
android.permission.READ_APN_SETTINGS
android.permission.BROADCAST_STICKY
android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
com.gov.mfa.permission.TMF_SHARK
com.gov.mfa.permission.MIPUSH_RECEIVE
android.permission.QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES
android.permission.FLASHLIGHT
android.permission.MOUNT_UNMOUNT_FILESYSTEMS
android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
com.gov.mfa.permission.PROCESS_PUSH_MSG
com.gov.mfa.permission.PUSH_PROVIDER
android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PROJECTION
com.huawei.appmarket.service.commondata.permission.GET_COMMON_DATA

and totally legitimate looking activities like com.tencent.rtmp.video.TXScreenCapture$TXScreenCaptureAssistantActivity , com.tencent.qcloud.logutils.LogActivity and com.tencent.liteav.audio2.permission.PermissionActivity

[–] [email protected] 1 points 13 hours ago

Wow, I'd just buy a new phone to install this and only this app if thats what it came down to. One with a removable battery that I could remove the battery between any required usages.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 16 hours ago

Lol, btw my dad who is still a PRC Citizen had to download an app and install it via .apk, because the Google Play Store doesn't have it, in order to apply for the Passport Renew in the app. Because (1) there is no Embassy in my city, and he'd have to travel 2-3 hours to get to the closest Embassey/Consulate and (2) since Covid, they made appointment process much difficult, and encourage online application instead.

They have do like a face scan using the app. Very futuristic to not have to do it in person, but simultaneously very uncanny and creepy to have essentially the Embassy stepping inside your house with the camera and microphone permissions.

I think he kept the app installed to check on the application progress, so the CCP could've technically heard the political debates about Taiwan and stuff in the house. So yea I'm probably on the watchlists of both PRC and USA for being a dissident, the two most powerful nations in the world doesn't very like dissidents like me who hates authoritarians. Wonderful. If they every go after everyone, I literally have nowhere in the world that can escape from the tentacles of these both these authoritarians. But lucky I'm not that important, so so far, no agent of the government have come after me, yet.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago (3 children)

android.permission.FLASHLIGHT

*long slow stare* ...but WHY THOUGH?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 22 hours ago

After a quick analysis of the app it looks like used by an activity licensed by a japanese software house that shines it to see if it has a live person in front of the camera or a picture of it. The legitimate use of this in the app it's because you can apply to visa, passports and certificates remotely without the need of going to the embassy (you still need to go in person for identification though, as they don't really trust it)

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

Flashlight on android is actually a flash for camera, if you want to get proper access to the camera you kind of need this one.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

If the secret police are trying to find you, they could turn on your flashlight and make hiding harder?

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I have entered the US around 10x/year and haven't being searched (I'm not saying it doesn't happen, tho), I've visited china multiple times last years and not been asked to install anything, either. Haven't heard about that app install requirement before, any articles about it?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

It's not forced but the paper slip for immigration now is online, so it's this app or the mini app inside WeChat (or waiting a couple hours in the line for the clerk that basically signs up a WeChat for you and inserts your data in the MFA mini app)

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In around 2019 two of my colleagues were visiting China for business thing, one had Xiaomi phone and wasn't asked to do anything, another had Samsung and his phone was searched.
It's an anecdote, so make of it as you will.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe they saw the phone and thought "ah, he's already covered."

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

Maybe this weird off topic claim isn't being made with intellectual honesty

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