Why are mobile phones prohibited at many consulates?
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I've recently been to the US Consulate where they ask you to leave your phone at the security check before entering the premises. Likewise you're not allowed any electronics, no matter how harmless.
But what is the rationale for this policy? What kind of damage can you do with your phone?
security consulates
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
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up vote
4
down vote
favorite
1
I've recently been to the US Consulate where they ask you to leave your phone at the security check before entering the premises. Likewise you're not allowed any electronics, no matter how harmless.
But what is the rationale for this policy? What kind of damage can you do with your phone?
security consulates
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
Just curious, Is that true in every US consulate ?
– Max
Oct 6 '17 at 14:55
1
In Germany you can't even leave your smartphone at security.
– tjati
Oct 6 '17 at 19:35
2
Consulates are notorious for treating the general public (especially foreigners) as dirt. They simply don't care one iota about inconveniencing you. In fact, they like to inconvenience you because it them a greater sense of their power over you.
– Michael Kay
Oct 6 '17 at 23:21
@tjati just as well, I would not trust any consulate with my phone.
– Spehro Pefhany
Oct 7 '17 at 3:09
1
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about travel.
– fkraiem
Oct 7 '17 at 8:11
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
1
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
1
1
I've recently been to the US Consulate where they ask you to leave your phone at the security check before entering the premises. Likewise you're not allowed any electronics, no matter how harmless.
But what is the rationale for this policy? What kind of damage can you do with your phone?
security consulates
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
I've recently been to the US Consulate where they ask you to leave your phone at the security check before entering the premises. Likewise you're not allowed any electronics, no matter how harmless.
But what is the rationale for this policy? What kind of damage can you do with your phone?
security consulates
security consulates
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
asked Oct 6 '17 at 12:51
JonathanReez♦
46.7k36215462
46.7k36215462
Just curious, Is that true in every US consulate ?
– Max
Oct 6 '17 at 14:55
1
In Germany you can't even leave your smartphone at security.
– tjati
Oct 6 '17 at 19:35
2
Consulates are notorious for treating the general public (especially foreigners) as dirt. They simply don't care one iota about inconveniencing you. In fact, they like to inconvenience you because it them a greater sense of their power over you.
– Michael Kay
Oct 6 '17 at 23:21
@tjati just as well, I would not trust any consulate with my phone.
– Spehro Pefhany
Oct 7 '17 at 3:09
1
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about travel.
– fkraiem
Oct 7 '17 at 8:11
 |Â
show 1 more comment
Just curious, Is that true in every US consulate ?
– Max
Oct 6 '17 at 14:55
1
In Germany you can't even leave your smartphone at security.
– tjati
Oct 6 '17 at 19:35
2
Consulates are notorious for treating the general public (especially foreigners) as dirt. They simply don't care one iota about inconveniencing you. In fact, they like to inconvenience you because it them a greater sense of their power over you.
– Michael Kay
Oct 6 '17 at 23:21
@tjati just as well, I would not trust any consulate with my phone.
– Spehro Pefhany
Oct 7 '17 at 3:09
1
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about travel.
– fkraiem
Oct 7 '17 at 8:11
Just curious, Is that true in every US consulate ?
– Max
Oct 6 '17 at 14:55
Just curious, Is that true in every US consulate ?
– Max
Oct 6 '17 at 14:55
1
1
In Germany you can't even leave your smartphone at security.
– tjati
Oct 6 '17 at 19:35
In Germany you can't even leave your smartphone at security.
– tjati
Oct 6 '17 at 19:35
2
2
Consulates are notorious for treating the general public (especially foreigners) as dirt. They simply don't care one iota about inconveniencing you. In fact, they like to inconvenience you because it them a greater sense of their power over you.
– Michael Kay
Oct 6 '17 at 23:21
Consulates are notorious for treating the general public (especially foreigners) as dirt. They simply don't care one iota about inconveniencing you. In fact, they like to inconvenience you because it them a greater sense of their power over you.
– Michael Kay
Oct 6 '17 at 23:21
@tjati just as well, I would not trust any consulate with my phone.
– Spehro Pefhany
Oct 7 '17 at 3:09
@tjati just as well, I would not trust any consulate with my phone.
– Spehro Pefhany
Oct 7 '17 at 3:09
1
1
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about travel.
– fkraiem
Oct 7 '17 at 8:11
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about travel.
– fkraiem
Oct 7 '17 at 8:11
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
You can take pictures, which:
- Show the internal layout, where people sit, etc.;
- Show the people that work there, which allows to identify them,
- It could be a remote bomb - you just leave you cell lying under the chair or wherever, and later remote detonate it;
- It would be incredibly annoying if you have dozens of people in there, all shouting on their cell phones, mixed with oh-so-funny loud ringtones, and so on.
Would you want to work with that?
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
2
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
6
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
4
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
3
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
1
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
 |Â
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
You can take pictures, which:
- Show the internal layout, where people sit, etc.;
- Show the people that work there, which allows to identify them,
- It could be a remote bomb - you just leave you cell lying under the chair or wherever, and later remote detonate it;
- It would be incredibly annoying if you have dozens of people in there, all shouting on their cell phones, mixed with oh-so-funny loud ringtones, and so on.
Would you want to work with that?
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
2
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
6
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
4
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
3
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
1
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
You can take pictures, which:
- Show the internal layout, where people sit, etc.;
- Show the people that work there, which allows to identify them,
- It could be a remote bomb - you just leave you cell lying under the chair or wherever, and later remote detonate it;
- It would be incredibly annoying if you have dozens of people in there, all shouting on their cell phones, mixed with oh-so-funny loud ringtones, and so on.
Would you want to work with that?
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
2
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
6
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
4
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
3
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
1
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
up vote
14
down vote
accepted
You can take pictures, which:
- Show the internal layout, where people sit, etc.;
- Show the people that work there, which allows to identify them,
- It could be a remote bomb - you just leave you cell lying under the chair or wherever, and later remote detonate it;
- It would be incredibly annoying if you have dozens of people in there, all shouting on their cell phones, mixed with oh-so-funny loud ringtones, and so on.
Would you want to work with that?
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
You can take pictures, which:
- Show the internal layout, where people sit, etc.;
- Show the people that work there, which allows to identify them,
- It could be a remote bomb - you just leave you cell lying under the chair or wherever, and later remote detonate it;
- It would be incredibly annoying if you have dozens of people in there, all shouting on their cell phones, mixed with oh-so-funny loud ringtones, and so on.
Would you want to work with that?
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
edited Oct 6 '17 at 17:28
Nean Der Thal
65.7k21242347
65.7k21242347
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
answered Oct 6 '17 at 13:00
Aganju
16.7k53666
16.7k53666
2
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
6
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
4
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
3
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
1
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
 |Â
show 2 more comments
2
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
6
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
4
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
3
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
1
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
2
2
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
Point (d) would apply to many people working in customer-facing desk environments, like in post officers, banks, train stations, airports, etc.
– gerrit
Oct 6 '17 at 13:36
6
6
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
Post offices don't have the power to refuse people with mobile phones. If they had, they would :-) Consulates have more power.
– gnasher729
Oct 6 '17 at 16:14
4
4
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
For points 1 and 2: All skilled sketch artists should also be banned then :-)
– Aditya
Oct 6 '17 at 18:11
3
3
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
@NeanDerThal. The reasons make perfect sense: #1: Planning/guiding a precision attack on the building itself, #2: Blackmail/targeted attacks outside the consulate, #3 Direct use as a weapon. #4: Giant pain in the behind.
– Mad Physicist
Oct 6 '17 at 19:57
1
1
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
@Aditya You can not hide a skilled sketch artist in the consulate and collect his or her sketches at a later date - allowing you to see what happens after public hours. However, despite that there are valid security reasons the real reason is that the consulate has something you want and you don't have anything they want - so you have to kowtow.
– emory
Oct 7 '17 at 2:48
 |Â
show 2 more comments
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Just curious, Is that true in every US consulate ?
– Max
Oct 6 '17 at 14:55
1
In Germany you can't even leave your smartphone at security.
– tjati
Oct 6 '17 at 19:35
2
Consulates are notorious for treating the general public (especially foreigners) as dirt. They simply don't care one iota about inconveniencing you. In fact, they like to inconvenience you because it them a greater sense of their power over you.
– Michael Kay
Oct 6 '17 at 23:21
@tjati just as well, I would not trust any consulate with my phone.
– Spehro Pefhany
Oct 7 '17 at 3:09
1
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is not about travel.
– fkraiem
Oct 7 '17 at 8:11