U.S. agents can seize travelers' Electronics at the Border.

[Epicurus8a]

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.

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0126069520080801?feedType=RSS&feedN...technologyNews



PLEASE NOTE: This is being provided as an informational link only. I am not trying to cause a political debate or a political discussion.

[PhoneMatt]

This is nothing new. People have been complaining, on various tech blogs, about this for the past 9 months. This just legalizes the procedure.
I sent my boss, an attorney, a copy of one of these blogs, 6 months ago, and she thought it was just internet crap. She was surprised when her laptop and Blackberry were searched on her way back from her vacation, last month. Even screams of "privilege" didn't slow down the inspectors. (And, boy, can she scream!) Guess I'll forward the Reuters link to her, this afternoon.
Matt

[Midzuki]

That's what we get when lazy investigators don't want to investigate and
the so-called "intelligence" doesn't want to think.

[sambat]

In Canada we have an added novelty:the Border Grocery Inspectors are now packing heat - the predictable result is that now they are 'Real' cops and want a thirty percent wage increase.
Most Canadians thought they were hired by weight.
The argument that they have a dangerous job is given the lie when comparing injury rates;turns out that it's Registered Nurses who should have gats in their garters.

[PhoneMatt]

OK, I'll bite- "Border Grocery Inspectors"???? Inquiring minds, especially those of south of the Canadian border, want to know.
I did love, "Most Canadians thought they were hired by weight." Absolutely perfect.

[edDV]

OK, I'll bite- "Border Grocery Inspectors"???? Inquiring minds, especially those of south of the Canadian border, want to know.
I did love, "Most Canadians thought they were hired by weight." Absolutely perfect.

You must not have encountered the California agriculture inspections at state boundaries. They make you dump any apples, lettuce or other potentially bug infested produce. You may think California is all about high tech or mil-aerospace but Ag rules the economy and we don't want your insects.

This is a war that never gets reported.
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/

[olyteddy]

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.

Boy the RIAA/MPAA will stop at nothing! I admit it! I have a Bob Dylan 8 Track tape in my luggage! Bloody terrorist he is!!!!

[edDV]

I doubt you personally recorded that 8-track. CAL-Ag is looking for organic bootlegs.

Ths latest tomato scare that was in the end a Mexican salsa has cost the state billions.

[edDV]

I doubt you personally recorded that 8-track. CAL-Ag is looking for organic bootlegs.

This latest tomato scare that in the end was Mexican pepper salsa has cost the state billions. This and no budget agreement.

The Arnold was forced to reduce state workers to minimal fed wage and laid off gov't temps.

We can't deal with DMV for months. You just need to register for the waiting line and leave. I think this may be good?*]

*I got my smog approval over internet while others waited hours. Smog test in CA is now $80+ because they now extreme pressure test the gas tank. Repair is $800 up. Rest of states prepare for your fate as Pelosi runs on.

[bendixG15]

.................... pressure test the gas tank. Repair is $800 up...............

Rest of the country pays less than half that to install a new tank ..... :P

[olyteddy]

I doubt you personally recorded that 8-track....

But it does have "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" from "The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1" on it...

[gll99]

This is more than a bit suspicious.

This should help ease congestion at the border .

[edDV]

.................... pressure test the gas tank. Repair is $800 up...............

Rest of the country pays less than half that to install a new tank ..... :P

They used to just test the gas cap. Now they pressurize the entire fuel system from a big tank of nitrogen and recover to another tank. This of course forces huge amounts of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere for any car that fails the test.