Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authorities are exploring new technologies to thoroughly analyze cell phones seized at points of entry to the United States.

According to a public request for information (RFI), the agency is seeking tools that allow it to extract and review encrypted messages in applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. This measure is part of a strategy to strengthen methods for identifying threats to national security.

The news, reported by the specialized media Wired, has generated concern among digital rights advocates, who warn of potential violations of the privacy of migrants and travelers. CBP has made it clear that the objective is not to indiscriminately review all devices, but rather to improve its analysis capacity in cases where a deeper inspection is justified.

CBP seeks access to encrypted chats as part of new security strategies

In the public document, the agency requests technology providers for solutions capable of analyzing large volumes of digital data, even those that are typically protected by end-to-end encryption.

Specifically, CBP raises the need to "identify hidden messages, deleted or archived conversations" that could contain relevant information for the detection of illegal activities or threats to the country's security.

According to the Wired report, CBP also showed interest in integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning to map digital behavior patterns, detect aliases used in different chats, and perform data cross-referencing in real time. All of this would take place in the context of inspections of devices confiscated at airports, land borders, or during special operations.

These types of practices are not new: in previous years, it has been reported that CBP retains migrant phones for long periods and extracts information with forensic tools. The new thing, However, it is the explicit intention to "enter" private conversations on platforms previously considered more secure.

Experts warn of risks to privacy and legal rights

Civil rights organizations, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), have pointed out that this proposal represents a worrying step towards intrusive surveillance. Although CBP claims that it would only apply these tools based on justified suspicions, critics insist that simply crossing a border should not be a reason to lose the right to privacy.