Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Laptops Can Be Searched At the Border

Posted by kdawson on from the don't-need-no-stinkin'-suspicion dept.

Nothing to Declare notes that a California appeals court has unanimously upheld a ruling that border security officers at international airports can search personal computers without requiring any specific evidence of criminal activity. The appeal was made by US resident Michael Timothy Arnold, charged with child pornography offenses after an airport search of his notebook PC in 2005. Might want to think hard about what's on your laptop if you're going to be passing through a US international airport.

1 of 821 comments (clear)

  1. Don't Be Stupid by guytoronto · · Score: 0, Redundant

    They can search your person for drugs, fruits, vegetables, undeclared trinkets, or whatever, all because they are allowed to control what flows into the country. Digital data is no different. Yes, they can't stop the Internet, but they can control video tapes and DVDs. That is digital data, and nobody cries when they bust illegal imports of movies. If you have sensitive data on your computer, PROTECT IT. It is easy enough encrypt your data. Border officials can't force you to decrypt your data. What are they going to do? Go Zoolander on it?