Police Want To Check Your Phone? 4 Simple Things You Should Know

Hey, how’s it going?  

Imagine you're in China, minding your own business, when a police officer asks to check your phone. What should you do?

Yeah, worst nightmare I know. But don't panic, as usual, SmartLaowai's got your back!

Don't do anything stupid, here's what to remember.

Stay calm and politely ask for the reason and legal basis for the check. Police checks should have a lawful basis, not be arbitrary. 

You can mention China’s Personal Information Protection Law (《中华人民共和国个人信息保护法》), particularly Article 34, which requires state organs to handle personal information within their legal authority and the scope necessary to perform their duties

But hey, don't argue aggressively! It's perfectly reasonable to ask why they want to check your phone, but you need to stay calm and cooperative. Don't escalate the situation. 

2. Don't Delete Your Messages

Don't delete chats, alter records, or ask your friends to clean up conversations for you. This could make an already stressful situation much worse.

Keep your messages and records intact.

3. Don't Sign What You Don't Understand

If you're asked to sign a written statement, read it carefully first. If it's in Chinese and you're not confident in your Chinese, ask for an accurate translation.

If anything is incorrect, request corrections before signing.

4. Ask to contact your consulate or family.

If the situation becomes serious, politely ask whether you can contact your embassy or consulate, or let your family know what’s happening. The more trusted people who know where you are and what’s going on, the better. 

Don’t assume you can always make the call immediately, but it’s worth asking calmly.

As far as I know, it's pretty rare for expats to be asked to hand over their phones for inspection in China. 

But hey, it's good to know what to do just in case. Better safe than sorry, right?

And if you've ever experienced this yourself, mind sharing your story in the comments below?