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Australian Visitors Must Declare Illegal Porn To Customs Officers

Posted by samzenpus on from the don't-blunder-down-under dept.

Australian Justice Minister Brendan O'Connor has advised visitors to take a better safe than sorry policy when it comes to their porn stashes, and declare all porn that they think might be illegal with customs officers. From the article: "The government said it changed the wording on passenger arrival cards after becoming aware of confusion among travellers about what pornography to declare. 'People have a right to privacy and while some pornography is legal and does not need to be disclosed, all travellers should be aware that certain types of pornography are illegal and must be declared to customs,' Mr O'Connor said."

11 of 361 comments (clear)

  1. That's Australia for you. by synthil · · Score: 3, Informative

    Too much fucking censorship here.

  2. Someone isn't very smart by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    This reminds me of a job application I filled out once. It actually asked you whether or not you were taking any illicit drugs, and how often. I'm not sure who was stupider: the person who created the application form, or the druggie moron who would answer truthfully. At any rate, if you had porn you though was illegal, WHY would you tell them so!?

    1. Re:Someone isn't very smart by LoyalOpposition · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's so they can fire you for lying on your job application.

      ~Loyal

      --
      I aim to misbehave.
    2. Re:Someone isn't very smart by Abstrackt · · Score: 5, Informative

      I think the person creating the application form was actually quite clever as two positive (for the company) things happen this way: 1) it weeds out the idiots who admit to taking illicit drugs with some regularity and 2) it makes it much easier to fire someone for lying on their application if the employer finds out they are on illicit drugs.

      As for customs, when you enter the US there is a section that literally asks if you're a spy. I hope they're not catching too many idiots that way but it does create a situation where someone who is a spy can be convicted for lying to the government. I figure the same idea applies to declaring illegal porn.

      --
      They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
  3. Re:Expectation of privacy by gfreeman · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not a valid defence in England

    --
    Ceci n'est pas un sig.
  4. Re:self-incrimination by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    You think the US is any different?

    http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch12.html#en_US_publink1000172062

    Form 1040, line 21 is where you are to report your earnings from illegal income.

  5. Re:Expectation of privacy by SydShamino · · Score: 2, Informative

    There are cultural ways to indicate that you don't want to be talked to. Your friend just didn't know them.

    --
    It doesn't hurt to be nice.
  6. Re:Expectation of privacy by tverbeek · · Score: 2, Informative

    US courts have specifically ruled that the Fourth Amendment doesn't apply crossing international borders.

    This expectation of no-privacy going through customs has even been used to justify warrantless searches of someone who is merely near an international border.

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  7. Re:Expectation of privacy by matfud · · Score: 2, Informative

    Thanks, I don't know US law precident in this but "Americans have an expectation of privicy" just made me chuckle wrt customs&immigration.
    It may be why US customs are some of the worst in the world I have been through (although it may just be low paid grumpy staff). Actually most cutoms are pretty bad but US is getting silly. UK ones are great (but I'm a from the UK). The same holds for mot nationals entering thier home country.

  8. the title is a little misleading by powerspike · · Score: 2, Informative

    I am Australian, and have read quite a few stories press releases etc on this subject. The BIG problem with these cards is, illegal to "import" and illegal to "posses" in australia is different. Meaning while it might be legal to own some types in Australia, it's illegal to bring them in (ie import) into the country, and they don't tell you what is what, This is one of the main reasons there has been a large uproar over the issue down under.

    There's two set's of rules, they aren't telling you which one is which, and don't give good examples, it's basically a trap

  9. Re:What???? by beav007 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not in customs, no. The only things you might get charged for in customs is Kiddie Porn or explosives. As with weapons (including lasers) and food, customs recognise that what the Australian Government calls "Extreme Porn" is legal in other countries, and as long as you hand it over on the way in, it's all good.

    The whole point of customs is to stop the stuff coming into the country - that's all. As long as you declare it and hand it over, that's as far as it goes.