It become more and more evident every day that our rights to privacy don't extend quite as far as they once seemed to.
Recently, there was some debate about whether it was legal for customs officials or TSA to demand you show them what's on your laptop, PDA or cell phone. The general consensus of the discussions I saw was "It shouldn't be."
Well, that question has been answered definitively by new DHS procedures.
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.
So there it is, in black and white. Your electronic devices can be taken away from you for not reason whatsoever when you travel.Read more
