BBC News examines software engineer Quincy Larson's widely shared blog post advising travelers to leave their mobile devices at home when traveling to the U.S. Larson's argument was sparked by the airport detainment and subsequent demand for the smartphone password of American-born NASA engineer Sidd Bikkannavar's phone. Larson viewed this incident as a "dangerous precedent." In light of his suggestion, BBC News' Rory Cellan-Jones reached out to U.K. and U.S. officials for their take. The U.K. Foreign Office said that while "their travel advice did not cover this subject because they had not received any calls about it," they advised someone in a similar situation to Bikkannavar's to call the British Embassy and arrange for a lawyer. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy said "they would need to speak to Washington" on the matter. The results led Cellan-Jones to perhaps consider taking a "burner" phone to the U.S.
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