U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops: report

[arglebargle]

Does this sound all right to you? A bit open ended and abuseable?


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

Agents are empowered to share the contents of seized computers with other agencies and private entities for data decryption and other reasons, the newspaper said.

DHS officials said the policies applied to anyone entering the country, including U.S. citizens, and were needed to prevent terrorism.

The measures have long been in place but were only disclosed in July, under pressure from civil liberties and business travel groups acting on reports that increasing numbers of international travelers had had their laptops, cellphones and other digital devices removed and examined.

The policies cover hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes -- as well as books, pamphlets and other written materials, the report said.

The policies require federal agents to take measures to protect business information and attorney-client privileged material. They stipulate that any copies of the data must be destroyed when a review is completed and no probable cause exists to keep the information.

(Reporting by Paul Eckert, editing by Alan Elsner)

http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...080801?sp=true

[hairic]

My guess is they're just setting up for another "comprimise" that will be hailed as this great achievement, just like what happened with FISA, to placate the masses. But what's really happening is the 4th amendment is just getting ****ed over.

[burmafrd]

Some of you seem to forget that the terrorists are pretty sophisticated anymore and they actually know how to use computers.

[Ben_n_austin]

Originally Posted by hairic

My guess is they're just setting up for another "comprimise" that will be hailed as this great achievement, just like what happened with FISA, to placate the masses. But what's really happening is the 4th amendment is just getting ****ed over.

I agree that it is getting pretty much squashed in favor of paranoid neo-con rhetorical meandering, which is like taking a on the Constitution.

[burmafrd]

Sometimes I wonder what you libs use for brains sometimes.

[hairic]

I realize discussion with you is pointless, but if the boogeymen wanted to get information (digital) across the border, they don't have to carry a computer, any electronic device, any media, or any paper with language on it to achieve it. It's much more convenient to just avoid dealing with the security theater.

[arglebargle]

Yeah, it is not like these guys have never heard of cryptography. I bet they have good seamstressess who can sew microfilm into clothes! Lets seize suspicious clothing at the borders!

Hyperbole? Yes. It's just so weird seeing these self-proclaimed conservatives backing soviet era models for America.
'Do you have your papers??'

[Ben_n_austin]

Originally Posted by hairic

I realize discussion with you is pointless, but if the boogeymen wanted to get information (digital) across the border, they don't have to carry a computer, any electronic device, any media, or any paper with language on it to achieve it. It's much more convenient to just avoid dealing with the security theater.

Yep, like a zip drive or something like that. It's like every fear tactic ever played by neo-con crowd lends legitimate reason to violate fundamental rights.


They get sillier, and more paranoid, every day.

[yeahyeah]

Laptops?? pfft. Thats nothing...suspension of Habeas Corpus, Wire taps...warrantless searches..they just ran out of stuff to take away.

[Vintage]

Originally Posted by Ben_n_austin

I agree that it is getting pretty much squashed in favor of paranoid neo-con rhetorical meandering, which is like taking a on the Constitution.

You mean, kinda like when your bretheren tried to squash the 2nd amendment, recently?

___________


Both suck. I wish I could exercise my 2nd amendment here and protect my property.

I'd shoot some mofos for sure if they tried to "confiscate" my property, in the name of "national security."

[sacase]

Originally Posted by arglebargle

Does this sound all right to you? A bit open ended and abuseable?


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

Agents are empowered to share the contents of seized computers with other agencies and private entities for data decryption and other reasons, the newspaper said.

DHS officials said the policies applied to anyone entering the country, including U.S. citizens, and were needed to prevent terrorism.

[View Full Quote]The measures have long been in place but were only disclosed in July, under pressure from civil liberties and business travel groups acting on reports that increasing numbers of international travelers had had their laptops, cellphones and other digital devices removed and examined.

The policies cover hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes -- as well as books, pamphlets and other written materials, the report said.

The policies require federal agents to take measures to protect business information and attorney-client privileged material. They stipulate that any copies of the data must be destroyed when a review is completed and no probable cause exists to keep the information.

(Reporting by Paul Eckert, editing by Alan Elsner)

http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...080801?sp=true

So basically what you are saying is that customs does not have the right to search your baggage when you are coming though custroms, correct?

[hairic]

Originally Posted by sacase

So basically what you are saying is that customs does not have the right to search your baggage when you are coming though custroms, correct?

Yes. They can search it, but it can't be used in court. They need reasonable suspicion for more "intrusive" searches (e.g., they can't strip search every person coming over the border for no reason).

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/200..._laptop_s.html

[sacase]

Originally Posted by hairic

Yes. They can search it, but it can't be used in court. They need reasonable suspicion for more "intrusive" searches (e.g., they can't strip search every person coming over the border for no reason).

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/200..._laptop_s.html

Nothing is final, that will probably see the supreme court one day.

In my opinion I see it as the same thing as searching your bags. Your laptop is mearly a bag holding your information, pictures, music, etc. When you leave the country you are giving implied consent to search your bags on your return, at least in my view. This is coming from an African American Male age 20-35 who has traveled extensively overseas.

[yeahyeah]

Originally Posted by sacase

Nothing is final, that will probably see the supreme court one day.

In my opinion I see it as the same thing as searching your bags. Your laptop is mearly a bag holding your information, pictures, music, etc. When you leave the country you are giving implied consent to search your bags on your return, at least in my view. This is coming from an African American Male age 20-35 who has traveled extensively overseas.

What about your house? Your car? Your phone calls? Your friends and families'?
What about detaining you indefinitely on suspicion of terrorist plotting? No attorney..no hearing. They can do all that too ya know...and your congressman more than likely voted for it.
So..yeah..whats a laptop?

"The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over”

Joseph Goebbels

[sacase]

Originally Posted by yeahyeah

What about your house? Your car? Your phone calls? Your friends and families'?
What about detaining you indefinitely on suspicion of terrorist plotting? No attorney..no hearing. They can do all that too ya know...and your congressman more than likely voted for it.
So..yeah..whats a laptop?

"The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over”

Joseph Goebbels

Well they can search your car if you take it out of the country. I would never take my house out the country since it is a bit to big. This is much ado about nothing.

I know all about what the Intelligence agencies can do, as that is my profession. As far as phone calls....don't call terrorists and people won't go looking at your phone calls.

You act like the FBI is just randomly going up to people and asking for their laptop computers at Starbucks.