Digital ‘strip-searching’ at border to be reined in

A new law means Customs will no longer be able to demand that people entering the country hand over the passwords to their laptops and phones without reasonable cause. ACT leader David Seymour secured the change to the Customs and Excise Bill, which is soon to have its second reading. ‘‘This will prevent countless New Zealanders and visitors from facing intrusive and unjustified searches,’’ Seymour said. Research found more than 1300 people had been digitally ‘‘strip-searched’’ since 2013.