U.S. defends laptop searches at the border

[flashl]

New York - Is a laptop searchable in the same way as a piece of luggage? The Department of Homeland Security believes it is.

For the past 18 months, immigration officials at border entries have been searching and seizing some citizens' laptops, cellphones, and BlackBerry devices when they return from international trips.

In some cases, the officers go through the files while the traveler is standing there. In others, they take the device for several hours and download the hard drive's content. After that, it's unclear what happens to the data.

The Department of Homeland Security contends these searches and seizures of electronic files are vital to detecting terrorists and child pornographers. It also says it has the constitutional authority to do them without a warrant or probable cause.

Yahoo

[Realityhack]

1. Interesting issues

I certainly hope this is overturned. But it does raise some very interesting issues.

[southern_belle]

2. kick

[symbolman]

3. Can I have Their Hard drives in exchange?

I'd bet you find some wonderful porno on there..

Someone needs to fight this.. I LIVE in my computer ... I'd rather take a hammer to it in front of them than hand it over.. Its TOO Private.. Not that I have anything to hide, but what if these assholes decide to plant shit in your hard drive to take you down? Cops used to "pull" weed out of innocent hippies pockets years ago, when their friends knew damn well the guy wasn't holding any..

Goddamn Bush to he'll for creating this Gestapo Stormtrooper existence...

Life used to be Fun, now were all slaves to these assholes..