That’s a misattribution. Not bringing your phone means you are choosing not to do something perfectly legal due to abuse of power — and doing so is likely to encourage further abuse because the culprits know they are less likely to be recorded.
I'd disagree, you taking your phone through customs is indeed legal, and the border goon's seizure of your phone (by force if they prefer) and demand for your password on penalty of imprisonment is also legal. So this is not a legal issue, everyone is acting within the law. One could argue that it is a political issue, that the law should be changed (and I'd agree), but that's a different question.
That’s the point: there are multiple laws involved, court cases trying to establish where things like rights to privacy end, etc. – none of those are technical issues.
