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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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U.S. citizens traveling to Hong Kong have been warned that refusing to hand over passwords or provide access to personal electronic devices can now be treated as a criminal offense under newly updated national security rules.
The warning was issued by the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao after the Hong Kong government amended the implementation rules of its National Security Law earlier this week, expanding police powers to access digital devices.
Why It Matters
The change significantly raises the stakes for travelers carrying smartphones, laptops, or other electronic devices, including those merely transiting through Hong Kong’s international airport.
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According to the U.S. Consulate, the updated rules apply to everyone in Hong Kong—residents, visitors, and travelers passing through the airport—and make it illegal to refuse police requests for passwords or decryption assistance.
What to Know
In a security alert dated March 26, the U.S. Consulate General said that, on March 23, 2026, Hong Kong authorities changed the rules governing enforcement of the National Security Law. Under the revised framework, police can require individuals to provide passwords or other assistance to access personal electronic devices, including cellphones and laptops.
The consulate warned that refusal to comply is now a criminal offense. It also said authorities have expanded powers to take and keep personal electronic devices as evidence if they claim the devices are linked to national security offenses.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs amplified the warning in a post shared by its TravelGov account, stressing that the rule applies even to travelers who are only transiting through Hong Kong International Airport.
The consulate advised U.S. citizens to contact American officials if they are arrested or detained and encouraged travelers to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and alerts.
In 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection introduced their own broad authority to search travelers’ electronic devices, including phones and laptops, at U.S. ports of entry under the so‑called border search exception. However, while travelers—particularly visa holders and non‑citizens—may be asked to unlock devices or have them searched, refusing to provide a password is not itself a criminal offense under U.S. law.
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What Happens Next
The U.S. advisory did not specify how frequently the new powers are expected to be used or how they will be enforced in practice, but it emphasized that travelers should be aware of the risks before entering or transiting through Hong Kong.
Hong Kong authorities have said the amendments are intended to strengthen enforcement of national security laws, which were introduced in 2020 following large-scale pro-democracy protests and have since been used in a wide range of investigations.
For now, U.S. officials are urging travelers to exercise caution, stay informed, and understand that digital privacy protections may differ significantly from those in the United States when traveling abroad.
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