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The Failing Right of Laptop Privacy

Posted by Zonk on from the don't-tread-on-my-data dept.

davidwr writes "Wired has an interesting editorial on laptop searches and seizures. It raises some interesting issues, including employee rights against police searches in the workplace, routine vs. non-routine searches at ports of entry, and police use of unrelated data found in a database search. The article ends saying: 'Of course, there's a chance that the courts will not recognize the different scope of privacy interests at stake in computer searches, or will not be adept at crafting a rule that gives enough leeway and guidance to law enforcement, while also protecting privacy. At that point, the Constitution may fail us, and we will have to turn to Congress to create rules that are better adapted for the information age.'"

8 of 315 comments (clear)

  1. And Hopefully... by photomonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    When the day comes that the Constitution can no longer protect us in the information age, we have a Congress actually interested and willing to step in on behalf of the people.

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    Message contains 1 attachment: spam.gif
  2. Congress makes laws in our interest?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "we will have to turn to Congress to create rules that are better adapted for the information age.'"

    Turn to congress for help in protecting our liberties? Haha, that's a good one. He must be new here.

  3. Story by eosp · · Score: 3, Funny

    My airport must really not like me. They not only said, "take your laptop out of its bag", they decided to say "turn it on". I did, flipped to FreeBSD, and as soon as they saw a command prompt they called in the dogs.

    1. Re:Story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      They called the dogs? What for? Whoever uses FreeBSD with a command line interface has clearly an extremely high pain threshold.

  4. HA! by nickcoons · · Score: 2, Funny

    "At that point, the Constitution may fail us, and we will have to turn to Congress to create rules that are better adapted for the information age."

    Is it possible to mod the article +1 Funny?

  5. You must be a terrorist! by www.sorehands.com · · Score: 2, Funny

    Living document? Constitution? What are you trying to hide? You must be a terrorist if you are trying to hide behind the constitution.

    If you had nothing to hide, you'd have no qualms about us inspecting your computers, listening on your phone calls, and being searched when we feel like it.

    What are you trying to hide?

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    Fight Spammers!
  6. Re:And Hopefully...Constitutional Plugins by blincoln · · Score: 2, Funny

    > I see the skin as a natural barrier, and would prefer to go Amish rather than be some ghoulish cyborg

    Seconded.

    You two both misspelled "totally awesome and sweet." You might consider a spelling-and-grammar implant.

    --
    "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
  7. Re:And Hopefully...Constitutional Plugins by Kandenshi · · Score: 2, Funny

    This "ghoulish cyborg" thing you speak of...
    Does this give me the ability to shoot lasers out of my eyes?
    Or at least the ability to at least surf naughty websites wirelessly without the need for a laptop?

    I dunno, I might go for it. I let things get under my skin all the time anyway :P