Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel Safety/Security > Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate
Reload this Page >

Googled on trying to enter the US?

Register
Community
Wiki Posts
Today's Posts
Search
Vendor Directory

Googled on trying to enter the US?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 4:45 am
  #1  
glurgen
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1
Googled on trying to enter the US?
Does anyone know if the DHS routinely Googles individuals travelling into the US? There was a news story about how "U.S. Border Patrol Bars Canadian Psychotherapist With Drug Research Far in His Past".
glurgen is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 7:23 am
  #2  
yyzvoyageur
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,849
Not routinely.
yyzvoyageur is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 8:23 am
  #3  
bdschobel
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
I was Googled entering Canada in 2008. Very weird. But they found me and apparently weren't bothered by what they found. I had entered Canada roughly once a month for about a year, and maybe it seemed like a lot to somebody.

Bruce
bdschobel is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 8:29 am
  #4  
GUWonder
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
I got Googled upon entry into Canada some years ago too.

Given misinformation is part of the internet picture -- or even perhaps the whole picture -- reliance upon online searches of Google can be an invitation to relying upon fiction.
GUWonder is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 10:16 am
  #5  
Ari
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,670
Originally Posted by GUWonder
Given misinformation is part of the internet picture -- or even perhaps the whole picture -- reliance upon online searches of Google can be an invitation to relying upon fiction.
That's why Francine likes to use it.
Ari is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 12:04 pm
  #6  
fastflyer
60 Nights
50 Countries Visited
3M
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,459
Originally Posted by Ari
That's why Francine likes to use it.
Francine Fishpaw?
Last edited by fastflyer; Aug 18, 2011 at 12:15 pm
fastflyer is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 1:05 pm
  #7  
mkt
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,333
I got Googled entering Canada as well. It was earlier this year.

Odd.
mkt is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 1:27 pm
  #8  
flyermatthew
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA - EXP 2.3 MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold, recovering UA Premier
Posts: 280
My guess: as long as you're not either a certain former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania or a close relative of his, you should be fine.
flyermatthew is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 1:34 pm
  #9  
Ari
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,670
Originally Posted by fastflyer
Francine Fishpaw?
Francine Kerner
Ari is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 6:51 pm
  #10  
janetdoe
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
How do you know you were Googled?
janetdoe is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 7:45 pm
  #11  
yyzvoyageur
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,849
Originally Posted by janetdoe
How do you know you were Googled?
"So you say you're a marketing manager for RIM?" (type, type, type) "Ah, there you are." That's not to say one cannot fake a LinkedIn page or other website, but Google can still be a good place to start.
yyzvoyageur is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 8:39 pm
  #12  
bdschobel
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
Originally Posted by janetdoe
How do you know you were Googled?
When I was Googled in 2008, the Canadian immigration guy showed me the screen.

Bruce
bdschobel is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 10:13 pm
  #13  
javabytes
FlyerTalk Evangelist
30 Countries Visited
1M
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Titanium, Nat'l EE, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,637
So what do they Google? Your name? What do they do when they find 76 million results for John Smith?
javabytes is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2011 | 10:19 pm
  #14  
Ari
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,670
Originally Posted by javabytes
So what do they Google? Your name? What do they do when they find 76 million results for John Smith?
I think they are able to refine their searches to find what they are looking for much like you and I are.
Ari is offline  
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2011 | 12:56 am
  #15  
SFOSpiff
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,628
I'm not sure what's scarier - that a government agency is using Google to get their nation-protecting done, or that Google may have more accurate and invasive databases than governments do.
SFOSpiff is offline  
Reply



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.