We Must Stop the Government From Seizing Laptops at the Border

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So, the government should be given irrefutable access to electronic information possessed by an individual based on reasonable suspicion? How low has this country sunk?
There IS no circumstance which should allow the government to say, "Hand me the laptop." I don't care what Homeland Security or the Patriot Act says, this is more than a violation of basic rights or a transgression of the 4th Amendment. Setting aside for the moment the ludicrous question of what reasons should allow for it, seizure and inspection of an inherently non-threatening, electronic device is nothing short of executive fascism.
I had been fearing this kind of action ever since Bush's infamous measures to "protect the homeland" and seek out and destroy "evildoers." Whoever believes terrorism is evil does not understand terrorism and should have nothing to do with fighting it.
Until today, I was a reasonably proud American. After reading this article, I am ashamed to call myself "American."
Unfortunately, I don't have enough money to travel away, but if I do, I will be sure any hard drives I bring will be encrypted so officials can make utter fools of themselves trying to extract information from them. Of course, by that time, I may be detained until I give them the passwords, given the current course of this country.

of 6:12PM October 30, 2008

The whole idea that Americans can be invasively searched at borders or airports sucks big time. Did 911 give the government the right to tyranny? Suspending our Constitutional rights?
Goodbye and good riddance to Bush and his Bush******t

james of CA 3:51PM October 29, 2008

Problem is the conflict between rules abiders and rules breakers. When the just strictly abide by the rules, the unjust use the honest against themselves for selfish advantage. When the breach is broken by the honest to infiltrate the undermining dishonest to end the attacks against decency and right, there becomes a 'necessary' losing of the integrity of right. Such is the course of evil and the battles against it to stave off disrespect and disloyalty - but, such is the course of good to re-establish concern. The twin towers still should be rebuilt.

mart of KS 11:39AM October 26, 2008

And people wonder why so many of us no longer travel by air; if I can drive in 8 hours of less, I drive. No rude airline employees, no gouging in resturants, no taking off one's shoes unless one wants to wriggle the toes, bathroom breaks whenever needed, no breathing someone else's germ-filled air, no being treated like a criminal!!! No ungodly ticket prices, no lines.
Now that Dubya is almost a thing of the past, maybe we can get back to being American again!

Rockerbabe of GA 9:52PM October 25, 2008

Computer Intelligensia? That's a contradiction in terms.

Ferd Treeforest of FL 9:46PM October 24, 2008

Thank you George w/ Bush and the Republican (GOP) Party. Exactly where did you think the excesses of the Patriot Act were going to go. I'll bet a lot of those inconvenienced by having their laptops taken are also supporters of that party. How can they not see the obvious. Did they think that snooping on private citizens was going to be problem for only Democrats?

Headshaking in Washington of WA 12:51PM October 24, 2008

Unfortunately, those who have attacked us are those who look like Hadji and I haven't got a problem with someone being cautious with folks who appear to be of middle eastern descent. It goes with the territory - can't spare someone's feelings in order to allow jerks a chance to kill more innocent people - period!

James Kosty of NY 9:49AM October 24, 2008

To beebs of CA - I don't think that even the strongest encyrption is unsusceptible to someone who is determined to gain access AND has the weight of the US government computer intelligentsia and financial backing to do so.
I can understand why some companies are resorting to scrubbing for travel - if it's not there it can't be compromised. But that is hardly the point - I agree with the quote from Benjamin Franklin posted by another reader: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
It's just wrong.

Concerned 9:09AM October 24, 2008

It's simple. Use encryption.

beebs of CA 7:29PM October 23, 2008

I agree that random checks of American citizen’s laptops and cell phones are egregious violations of privacy and principally wrong. However, I'm not totally convinced that’s what the policy says and I am suspicious that this is just another partisan attack by the limp-brained democrats. What I find very disturbing is Feingold’s addition to the bill. "The bill also prohibits random profiling based on race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin." That would amount to making it illegal for custom agents to search any one of middle-eastern descent or Muslim background. Once an agent began searching anyone of that description/background they would be accused of racial profiling and not only would the search stop, any future searches would be hindered or stopped. Furthermore it would allow endless lawsuits by "targeted" suspects.
Keep the first part ditch the last.

Dave of NJ 1:42PM October 22, 2008