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US border control seizes your laptops, iPods, cellphones
From the front-page of the Washington Post today comes a scary tale of the legal seizure of electronics at US immigration checkpoints. Many travelers flying into the US have complained about being forced to turn over their iPods, laptops, and cellphones to agents for examination. Often times the data subsequently gets copied--or worse.It's probably not surprising that most of the victims are of Muslim or Southeast Asian descent. Because of this policy, several corporations are requiring their business travelers to carry "blank laptops."
In Canada, one law firm has instructed its lawyers to travel to the United States with "blank laptops" whose hard drives contain no data. "We just access our information through the Internet," said Lou Brzezinski, a partner at Blaney McMurtry, a major Toronto law firm. That approach also holds risks, but "those are hacking risks as opposed to search risks," he said.
Update: Turns out the TSA says this shouldn't be happening. Read their response.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Tri Feb 7th 2008 3:45PM
This is where TrueCrypt comes in. Bring it on!
Kyle Feb 10th 2008 11:24AM
Im all for giving the gov. what it needs to do its job, but this is bull.
coach Feb 7th 2008 5:14PM
and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals should have something major to say on this soon, too:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/us/07bar.html?ex=1357362000&en=d0caa6c9ba3f76ed&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Mo Ron Feb 10th 2008 6:29AM
Seems like an invasion of privacy as well as a waste of time. Another feel good measure.
If business men can come with a blank laptop and download the info, why can't a terrorist do the same?
Hollywoodeast Feb 10th 2008 8:09AM
terrorist's suck..........go violation of privacy!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian Feb 10th 2008 8:38AM
This government needs to read the constitution. In a few years we may have brain downloads at the border. Have you signed your loyalty pledge yet? How about a little freedom !!!
Bob Feb 10th 2008 9:10AM
As Will Rogers once said,"One man's freedon to swing his fist ends at the tip of my nose." Well. if giving up a little freedom means that it may end a terrorist attack, then count me in. If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear. You may ask the families of 9-11 what they think as well.
cheryl may Feb 10th 2008 9:40AM
Well, I might want to hide my personal info against identity theft and some people may not want their business info put into the wrong hands. Everything that people want to stay private is not illegal info.
Jadin Feb 10th 2008 9:55AM
There are always those corrupt, power hungry officials at the top who will take advantage of our willingness to let "Big Brother" look out for us. They can easily use things like RFID chip implantation to "keep us safe" when in reality, they are tracking our every move and every purchase. There's a fascinating and well documented video that has been uploaded onto You tube that I think you would enjoy watching. It's only 9 minutes and is well worth it. Go to Youtube.com. In "Search" type in "Bilderberg v chip" You will see what I mean at the end of the film which talks about micro-chipping for "safety."
Susan Feb 10th 2008 11:17AM
Bob it's people like you with attitudes like yours that scare the hell out of me.
mister Feb 10th 2008 9:27AM
This is another violation of our rights and does not do anything to secure our safety. My husband and I travel frequently, and him being of Arab decent we have put up with the frequent searches. His father worked for the US govt. My husband was born in Lybia while his father was working for the govt. Going on a cruise we get picked out of our group of 40 people for random searches. Many times Traveling at x-mas we have to allow extra time, but have put up with it and try to make a joke out of it.We understand things in our country have changed but this has been happening to us for years.Coming back into the US from Mexico was the biggest joke of all. My husband has a prosthetic hip now and going thru securty he of course went off. The Mexican agent waved us thru and said have a good day Senior? He could have had a gun. But he lookes Hispanic so we got thru . Maybe we should take a look at the security going thru Mexico.... This laptop thing is the last straw, this is against our rights!
Curt Feb 10th 2008 11:55AM
We Americans no longer care what your arab American family members have done so greatly in the past. If your arab family member found THE cure for cancer what's to keep him/her from blowing people up while flying in an airplane,driving a vehicle,or walking down the street. If you look,smell,act,or are named musslim you MUST be srutinized through and through. PERIOD. What are good are freedoms to a rotting corpse????
Carlo Feb 10th 2008 9:42AM
install / restore international 'Civil Rights'. That starts in the USA. Averts people wanting to bomb us for selfishness and high handed behaviors. Apares millions / billions of families and generations seemingly endless grief.
Curt Feb 10th 2008 12:16PM
Carlo: Stay home and make positive changes in your own country. Don't sneak under our fence into an already good situation and try to build your agenda on some one else blood, sweat, and tears. What you are suggesting is as cowardous as we expect from you low lifes.
TROOPER JAY Feb 10th 2008 9:33AM
Be advised, nothing is privey when entering any country and being checked for admissibility by immigration / customs officers. Their job is to check everything a person or cargo has to make that determination. Whether you like it or not is irrevelant. It is the current law, procedure, and policy. Either comply, do not attempt entry, or work to change the law before attempting enty.
If you asked to enter my house, you will have to meet my standards or not be allowed in.
A Frank Feb 10th 2008 3:31PM
It is aboubt time that true American voices my
opinion about the Muslim danger to my country.
I wore the Army uniform for 7 years and am
disgusted by the Commie-liberals in my
government. Racial profile everyone and we will
be a better country.
no thanks Feb 10th 2008 9:43AM
What is the matter with this country? It is one thing for security to look in someone's suitcase for banned or suspicious items. It would be quite another thing for security to look in my suitcase, find my personal diary and copy all the pages in it before returning it to my luggage. That is not security, that's illegal snooping. Does the computer/ ipod work, is it a real device that works as intended and not a decoy weapon. That's all they need to know. someone's passwords are private and none of security's business. Same with their cell phone records. If you want that stuff, get a warrant.
mister Feb 10th 2008 10:43AM
I totally agree!!
Ken Feb 10th 2008 9:56AM
Maybe it's just me but I'd think if we were that worried about what they might be bringing in to our country, we'd tell them to take their laptop and GO AWAY!
If they're "safe" to allow in, then what does it matter what they have on their laptop or iPod?
Just another example of government muscle being fliexed simply because it can be flexed.
Doug Feb 10th 2008 10:11AM
Can anyone say ...FASCIST !!! that is exactly what we are becoming...they can call it (terrorist threats) or anything else...but it is nothing more than diminishing the rights of the people...wake up sheep...!!!!!