The Australian Border Force has rejected a man's claims customs officers installed surveillance software on his phone at Sydney Airport.
British-Australian IT businessman Nathan Hague claimed his privacy was violated and software installed on his phone at the airport on Friday.
But the Australian Border Force has categorically denied this, telling AAP "no software was put onto the mobile device".
"The ABF (Australian Border Force) does not install software on mobile devices during an examination," a spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.
In a video posted to Facebook after he left Sydney Airport, Mr Hague said customs officers told him "there's new legislation that's come in this week ... and now you are compelled to give your PIN, unlock your phone, unlock your laptop."
The 45-year-old added his MacBook laptop and android phone were confiscated, with officers later returning them so he could again unlock the phone.
Mr Hague said he then saw a dark blue background with "a black, floating, animated octopus" on the phone, and interpreted this as officers having installed surveillance or routing software.
Border Force, which comes under the Department of Home Affairs, said there were "a number of inaccuracies in this individual's account of his interaction with ABF officers".
Under section 186 of the Commonwealth Customs Act 1901, customs officers such as Border Force have the authority to inspect electronic devices and read files on them.
"Officers may question travellers and examine goods if they suspect the person may be of interest for immigration, customs, biosecurity, health, law-enforcement or national security reasons," the ABF said.
It also said passengers with concerns about their interactions with officers could lodge a complaint.
Mr Hague told AAP he would have felt more comfortable had he been able to witness the inspection process, rather than officers taking his belongings into a closed room while he waited outside.
His social media post garnered widespread attention from Facebook users.
