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Scary stuff. U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops etct

By hmmmmm! ·
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.
FROM REUTER NEWS LINK BELOW. seems the government can take your gear without even suspicion and show it to whom they wish and you have not choice in matter and even worse real vague as to whom can do it..


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/technologyNews/idUSN0126069520080801

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Gov can Take your electronics?

by hmmmmm! In reply to Scary stuff. U.S. agents ...

I kind of wondered if this was being done...or just news hype.. friends returning from MX nearly had their laptop taken and were told "we can take it if we want".. at border. they only kept it when wife proved to someone nothing on it of any interest, and her brother some sort of fed, vouched for her over phone..But appears they can take about anything and no reason has to be given.

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Guess...

by Ed Woychowsky In reply to Gov can Take your electro ...

That it's one of the fringe benefits of being a minimum wage boarder guard, you can sieze the latest electronics for free. :)

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The gov taketh.. for no reason

by hmmmmm! In reply to Guess...

Wonder if one can file claim for theft? Bit frightening that the rules seems to say they do not even need suspect cause... perhaps if compatible with their home systems. PC to PC, MAC to MAC is enough..

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