Thing is, anyone can be a smuggler/drug mule, a covert agent of a cartel or a wack-job who converts to a member of Isis. Once you lie or don't disclose relevant information to customs officials you are in for a bad time. I have had my share of run-ins with overzealous customs agents and it isn't fun. They can keep you detained for hours, go through anything you bring into the country, do body-cavity searches and go over any public or government information they have on you. There should be more laws in place to protect people's rights and private papers but if you know this an issue you can just keep information you want private, yet accessible, in the cloud and don't take anything you don't feel comfortable government agents reviewing on your person when traveling outside of the country. This guy got off lightly compared to what they can do legally. Most customs agents are just doing their job but some get off on the power trip. There should be recourse for those who abuse their power but given the circumstances of this particular example I think customs was not that far out of line given the journalist's behavior.