US Border Agency Says It Can Seize Laptops

Sock

Travelers beware: U.S. agents now have the authority to seize and retain laptops indefinitely, according to a new policy detailed in documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
As part of border search policy, government agents are now authorized to seize electronic devices and inspect documents in them, the document states. The electronic devices might include laptops, cell phones, portable music players or storage devices such as portable hard drives.
Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection will also be allowed to translate and share documents with other government agencies.
The DHS document, issued July 16, appears to state publicly a policy that has already existed. Laptops and electronic devices have been subject to search in the past, and travelers have reported not getting their devices back. The policy has drawn strong criticism from lawmakers and nonprofit groups, who charged that the searches were invasive and a violation of an individual's privacy rights. Computers contain a vast amount of private information about family, finances and health, which could be easily copied and stored in government databases, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has complained.
The policy document states that being able to examine documents and electronic devices is crucial for "detecting information concerning terrorism, narcotics smuggling ... contraband including child pornography, and ... other import or export control laws."
The new DHS policies allow customs agents to analyze the contents of laptops without any suspicion of wrongdoing, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold said in a statement.
"The policies that have been disclosed are truly alarming," Feingold wrote.
The policy could blur the distinction between "search" and "seizure," which could also allow DHS officials to steal personal documents from laptops it has retained, Feingold wrote.

jangel

.....PITA....what next?

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Life,
j-angel


My Little Grow LST'ing w/Hardware

My Outdoor Odyssey 2008 BONSAI MUMS

Cloning a Flowering Plant My Little Grow Blueberry

GreenGoblin

Such Bullshit. This really aggravates me. I work for a company that requires me to keep sensitive data on an encrypted laptop. So, now I have to jeopardize my customers data because the government wants to make sure everyone is safe? Good luck getting past the encryption g-men.. and if you do, you will see you wasted your time.

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GreenGoblin


http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/gree...rst-grow-5887/

I am a compulsive liar, and nothing I say should be taken seriously. All posts are strictly for entertainment purposes.

jangel

Can't some of your info be stored on a remote server and then accessed when you get to your destintion on a different computor? I think that could solve a lot of probs.

Peace

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Life,
j-angel


My Little Grow LST'ing w/Hardware

My Outdoor Odyssey 2008 BONSAI MUMS

Cloning a Flowering Plant My Little Grow Blueberry

green_nobody

the simples fix would be that they regard my right of privacy - get your hands of my stuff homelandf***ers!

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Keep the gun oiled and the thumb green!

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp...Canada-eng.MP3

ISO2BWELL

My laptop has all kinds of data on it, and that includes mega bud pics, etc. What, they gonna jail me for having a picture?

I can see the headlines now:

"Man imprisoned by US Border Agents for having pictures of ...marijuana (gasp) on his laptop. It is expected he will receive the death penalty if proven guilty."

George Orwell really wasn't that far off, now was he?

ISO

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green_nobody

not by an fraction of an inch was he off with is predictions

come and get mine

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Keep the gun oiled and the thumb green!

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp...Canada-eng.MP3

GreenGoblin

I am not concerned with them finding anything illegal. I have nothing illegal on my computers, but the point that they can unlawfully search it or confiscate it really irritates me. It would be one thing if I was being investigated for a crime, but searching the data when they have no cause is bullshit.

Yes, data can be stored on remote servers and so on.. but the point is.. I work for a company that expects me to protect the laptop and the sensitive data on it. You can't store everything remotely. In my eyes.. turning it over to ANYONE is a violation of my company policy. So, I am expected to turn it over at the border to let some asshat go through the file system? I don't think so.. I will be sitting in security for a while because they are not getting that password. Besides.. .the retards at security can barely handle what they do now. We are going to ask them to be technically proficient and be able to search my PC?

I am so tired of our government infringing upon my rights in the name of safety and security. I would rather take the risk.

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GreenGoblin


http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/gree...rst-grow-5887/

I am a compulsive liar, and nothing I say should be taken seriously. All posts are strictly for entertainment purposes.

Sock

You are so right on GG, I am so fed up with the GOvt right now that I really dont know what to do. They have us by the balls until we all wake up and see the truth. We have to all unite to take back what is ours, but the govt keeps us seperated and in argument so they can continue on with their agenda, for instance, there really is no Republican / Democratic party anymore, just labels to keep us people arguing between ourselves, so the Govt can keep getting more powerful..

I am 35yo and have never ever felt right about religion, something in my mind just told me early on that it is evil, wars are fought over this stuff. And for a god that is suppose to be so forgiving, why does he inflict so much suffering, why does he apparently KNOW everything and can control your destiny, that can do it all, but yet need all of our money???

I have a very open mind and many people I know just cant understand the concept of religion being a farce or that our govt was behind the JFK shooting, WW1, WW2, Vietnam, 9/11. They just cant think outside the box for a moment.

But we all, everyone, the whole world is in for some serious craziness if we dont do something.

I urge everyone of you to just take 2hrs our of your busy day, open your mind , put aside any beliefs you may have and watch this movie. I really dont know how else to convince people to start really seeing the world like it is... I am sad today, but this is how it is..Media rules...:(

Zeitgeist - The Movie

Peace Brothers and Sisters,

Sock

ISO2BWELL

Goblin,

Yep...that's another angle I had not thought of. There is data on my laptop that requires a specific level of security clearence to be allowed access...and therefore without certain people present they would not be [legally] allowed to even turn the damn thing on...not without breaking a whole bunch of US and Int'l laws, that is.

ISO

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