Airport Laptop Searches "Unreasonable," U.S. Senate Told

[engine]

Advocacy groups and some legal experts told Congress on Wednesday that it was unreasonable for federal officials to search the laptops of United States citizens when they re-enter the country from traveling abroad.

Civil rights groups have said certain ethnic groups have been selectively profiled in the searches by Border Patrol agents and customs officials who have the authority to inspect all luggage and cargo brought into the country without obtaining warrants or having probable cause.

Companies whose employees travel overseas have also criticized the inspections, saying that the search of electronic devices could hurt their businesses.

Airport Laptop Searches "Unreasonable," U.S. Senate Told [nytimes.com]

[weeks]

In a written statement to the committee from Jayson P. Ahern, deputy commissioner for Homeland Security, the agency explained that its efforts did not infringe upon privacy and that it was important to note that the agency was “responsible for enforcing over 600 laws at the border, including those that relate to narcotics, intellectual property, child pornography and other contraband, and terrorism.”

OK, fine and good. But that doesn't explain why they are searching laptops. It's a waste of resources that should be used looking for narcotics, stolen intellectual property, child pornography and other contraband, and stopping terrorism.

The argument in the NYT is that it's a privacy issue. Well, maybe. Probably. But, that aside, it's a serious waste of time and money.

[Sarah Atkinson]

I can understand searching the bag but actually. searching info on the computer. Privacy or not it's a huge waste of time. I can also see physically searching the computer(like in the battery compartment)if the suspect smuggling.

[SEOMike]

How can they possibly think that they can detect "contraband" data? Are they kidding? All it takes is a little skill and you can hide anything you want from some low-wage, under educated FTSA employee. I have a lot of contempt for FTSA employees who make like $15 an hour and waste SO much of my time.They behave as if they are someone important and they get this smug attitude and look on their face. They can't even form a coherent sentence half the time. Sometimes I just want to...

But I digress...

I think efforts like this are just to pacify the public into thinking that the government can protect them from terrorists.

I asked my buddy who is a Fed what probable cause really means, and his reply was "Probably 'cause I want to." :)

[edited by: SEOMike at 9:00 pm (utc) on June 26, 2008]

[Visit Thailand]

I thought that there are agencies in the US that already know what is on my laptop, what was on it, and probably what I am likely to put on it in the future ..... why do they need to manually search it at the airport.

Conspiracy music please.....

On a serious note, this is not just in the US, a computer search can happen at any customs in the world.

Thailand has some pretty strict rules on this, but to be honest I am not entirely sure what they are.

[edited by: Visit_Thailand at 9:58 am (utc) on June 27, 2008]

[thecoalman]

How can they possibly think that they can detect "contraband" data? Are they kidding? All it takes is a little skill and you can hide anything you want from some low-wage, under educated FTSA employee.

-or- from a very intelligent person with numerous resources at there disposal. That's really besides the point anyone with such valuable information that they don't want the government to get their hands on would be stupid to try to take it through customs encrypted or not since there are so many other means to do it.