The Failing Right of Laptop Privacy

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.'"

Comments

Re:At that point, the Constitution may fail us

[k1e0x]

Word.

1913 was the *start* of us loosing our rights but with the recent stuff (patriot act, land seizures, warrant less wire taping, military tribunals) its all gone now.

I cant think of a single part of the bill of rights that we still have.

Why is speech "limited" at political rallies or universities? Why is hate speech a crime? ..because the 1st Amendment is meaningless.

Why are there gun laws restricting firearms? ..because the 2nd Amendment is meaningless.

The 3rd.. is possibly impractical.. and also probably meaningless as well.. but if not, the feds will find a way to make it legal.

The government can search practically anything they want now? Laptops, Phone records, E-Mail, you name it, why? ..because the 4th Amendment is meaningless.

How can the City of New London takes peoples land and give it to Pfizer? ..because the 5th Amendment is meaningless.

Why is José Padilla been in jail for 4 years being tortured, when his case is still pre-trail? ..because the 6th (and 8th) Amendment, are meaningless.

Why does just about everyone accused of mutable crimes seek a plea bargain for a lesser offence instead of standing up for there rights? Why does the state tack on so many charges with extreme punishment (101 years for spamming)? ..because the 7th Amendment is -basically- meaningless.

Why is a man being sentenced to 101 years for spamming? Why is another man sentenced (and denied appeal) to 50 years in prison for selling pot? Why are children being convicted of molesting each other? ..because the 8th Amendment is meaningless.

Why does the government have the power to do anything we don't specially say they don't have or can pick apart and widdle down the other rights we have? Why is it the people reserve no rights beyond what's listed in the constitution .. that or what the government allows? ..because the 9th and 10th Amendments are meaningless.

We have a "vestige" of the construction.. we don't actually have enforceable rights in the same sense as they were written. The Ed Brown case is part of this, the court would not allow him to use constructional law in his court. read that again.. you can't use the construction.. the highest law on of land in a U.S. federal court. The judges swear an oath to it but its entirely irreverent anymore.