How to keep your data safe when you travel

It’s always a good idea to think about your phone and other devices when you travel. Things get lost, things get stolen, things get left in the seat-back pocket on the plane, and you should always make sure you have a plan. Right now, though, particularly if you’re traveling into the United States, there’s also the (relatively small but very real) possibility that someone will go through your phone to decide if you’re allowed into the country. On this episode of The Vergecast, The Verge’s Gaby Del Valle explains everything you need to know and do if you’re planning to travel across borders soon. She talks us through the reason Customs and Border Protection agents are allowed to search your phone in the first place, what they’re looking for, and how you can protect yourself and your data. Gaby also explains how likely it really is that you’ll be searched, and what rights you have if it happens. [Media: https://megaphone.link/VMP7174892771] Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | More After that, Puck’s Matt Belloni joins the show to talk about the streaming wars. For years, Apple, Amazon, Google, and other tech companies have made splashy investments in movies and shows, and it’s hard to tell if it’s working. In one sense, it certainly isn’t working: Apple TV Plus is reportedly losing $1 billion a year. And yet Apple’s still happily in the game. Matt explains what these companies really want from their streaming services, what their money means to Hollywood, and which tech company has the best chance to really make it in Hollywood. Finally, we answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about the Google Pixel lineup, and how it came to be one of our most straightforward phone recommendations. It took Google a while, and a lot of missteps, but it has made a phone most people will like and understand. If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started: * Is it safe to travel to the United States with your phone right now? * DHS’s airport panopticon is getting people deported and detained * Trump says he wants to deport US citizens to El Salvador * Matt Belloni at Puck * The Town podcast * From Puck: How Long Can the Apple TV+ Experiment Sputter On? * Apple TV Plus is reportedly losing $1 billion per year * Google Pixel 9A review: a midrange phone done right * Google Pixel 9 review: the phone that Android needs