Source: Original Article
The Royal Constabulary has conducted a trial at Schiphol airport that involves searching through digital media in possession of travelers. Customs hopes to fight the smuggling of child pornography.

Traders in child pornography, out of fear of being caught, are said to not be making frequent and heavy use of the internet. Laptops, USB sticks, digital cameras, and mobile phones are said to have become more popular as a means to transport and spread illegal images and videos. Because media like flash memory cards have gotten smaller, and thus are easy to hide, it is said that the chances of being caught are lower than with online transfers. In order to combat this phenomenon, the justice department in collaboration with the Royal Marshals (Royal Constabulary), customs officials and the national police services, have conducted a pilot project where digital equipment and media of incoming travelers to Schiphol Airport were searched. In particular travelers returning from ’suspect’ countries such as Thailand, Brazil, Shri Lank, and Vietnam were targeted for these additional searches.

It is entirely unclear which selection criteria the border guards use for these searches. The Royal Marshalls are keeping it a secret but an insider told the Telegraaf newspaper that the criteria includes males traveling by themselves and who are regular travelers to countries that are known for or have a reputation of catering to the sex-tourism industry and the production of child pornography. These individual single male travelers had to surrender their mobile phones or laptops so these searches could be conducted. Whether any child pornography has been discovered during this ‘trial project’ is unclear because customs refuses to answer that question.

The justice department wanted to keep a lid on these activities, fearing the legal complications. According to a spokesperson for the Royal Constabulary, searching through digital media has a valid legal basis, that being; customs officials are allowed to search through the possessions of travelers if they have a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed.

Currently the pilot project is said to be under evaluation by the public prosecution and justice department in Haarlem. The results of this evaluation would be used to determine and decide whether these targeted searches should become a part of the basic law-enforcement methods. Liesbeth Groeneveld, director of an organization where child pornography can be reported said these searches are a “good thing” even though the reality and chances of catching actual criminals is completely unclear. She added that “sending this signal is more important than the results”.