[bsachais]

Having been reading about some people's laptops, BB's, and other PDA's being searched, with the data being copied, at the airport upon returning to the US from another country, I was curious if there are any first-hand experiences anyone has had with this.

Barry

[TroyDBrown]

Wirelessly posted (8120 4.5.037)

I would like to know this as well. I have never had it happen and I am usually loaded down with electronics.

[dankarlinski]

i believe this is against the law here in america and in the UK as well. as for others, idk.


you could always keep the battery and phone seperate so they cant pull andything if ytou are worried

[C17Driver]

Originally Posted by bsachais

Having been reading about some people's laptops, BB's, and other PDA's being searched, with the data being copied, at the airport upon returning to the US from another country, I was curious if there are any first-hand experiences anyone has had with this.

Barry

Members of my crew have had their laptops and thumbdrives searched (not in the United States, it was a country in the Middle East). The laptops seemed to work ok afterwords but the thumbdrives ended up with viruses on them (best case) and a couple of them were rendered useless. Whenever we went through the customs process, they didn't seem interested in our cameras or blackberry phones...

[jbairdjr]

I wouldn't try to take any electronic device onto an airplane or through a security checkpoint that you cant power up.
I've been asked to do this many times, and I wonder if the agents would wonder about your non-functioning device.

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by jbairdjr

I wouldn't try to take any electronic device onto an airplane or through a security checkpoint that you cant power up.
I've been asked to do this many times, and I wonder if the agents would wonder about your non-functioning device.

I heard your better off shipping it to your destination verses bringing it with you on the plane. I've only taken my laptop on a plane a couple times but only thing they had me do was run it through the xray.

[003402]

we travel with sanitized laptops for this reason. Basically a stripped down laptop with an OS and applications. no stored files. We keep them on a server that can be accessed remotely. havent addressed the BB issue.

[bsachais]

Regarding the post by dankarlinski, I'd direct him and others to the NY Times editorial in Thursday's edition (July 10 and available online). Written in one paragraph of the editorial, "The Government and Your Laptop",

" Laptop owners rightly complain that the program violates the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. Their legal objections, however, have not fared well. In April, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco upheld a laptop search at Los Angeles International Airport. After this disappointing decision, Congress needs to act."

So, for the time being at least, it is legal in those states in which that court has jurisdiction.

Barry

[Phranc]

Yabut. Do a little research and you will find that almost all of the Ninth Court's ruling on Constitutional Issues gets overruled.

[Sith_Apprentice]

I have flown all through the US and Canada with, at times, dozens of electronic devices, and never had them searched. They make sure they power on, and swab for explosive residue and that is it. I also carry on ALL my electronics, I do not trust them in the cargo bay/with airport personnel

[FF2]

I THINK at the moment is is just for travelers coming through "Customs" and the border where Constitutional Rights are a bit more vague. I don't think it is yet happening for domestic flights. But if you want to see where kind of concept has been extended: in Washington State there is a STATE ferry system which provides service to islands just outside of Canada with, I believe, one sailing per day that is International. Well, Customs-Border Security has now started checking ID for the runs that are solely local and within the US border and folks are objecting. The clincher is that while they can ask for ID they cannot require it since it is a domestic sailing but the pressure is less than subtle.

What is interesting is that the US believes that when other countries practice this type of scutiny it is considered industrial espionage or just plain espionage.

All, Hail National Security.

Getting interesting, huh.

[dragoro]

Think a lot of people would rather be attacked again then be protected.

[Jase88]

Wirelessly posted (7250)

I've not had this done.

And I don't agree with this ability for border agents. Like other law enforcement, I believe they should have probable cause to search electronic devices.

[MikeyLikesIt]

I travel all the time and have just about worn out a computer bag taking my laptop out at TSA Security. They have never done anything but X-ray it other than the occasional drug/explosive swab down. I have never been asked to power it up. In certain airports, however, my boarding pass is on my BB so it has to be powered up.
I have a personal cell phone that is rarely on in my computer bag and they have never seemed to notice it.

But I do travel with a sleep noise machine, and that thing has practically had the paint swabbed off of it. When they spot it in my carry on, they have to have a look and when they do, they swab it. It is almost like clockwork.

MikeyMike

[jlink38]

With the new FISA immunity law in effect, anything is now possible. Say goodbye to the fourth amendment.

[003402]

I think this mainly applies to overseas travel. TSA doesn't do much with domestic, other than swabs and such. I think the OP was referencing an electronic search of the data stored vs. a physical inspection.

either way, it blows if some can just look at your machine against your will.

[bsachais]

Whether or not the Ninth Circuit Court's decision is overturned, at his time, a Custom's agent, can seize your equipment and copy the data. As I understand the situation, this can be done at will.

Barry

[FF2]

Originally Posted by bsachais

Whether or not the Ninth Circuit Court's decision is overturned, at his time, a Custom's agent, can seize your equipment and copy the data. As I understand the situation, this can be done at will.

Barry

I guess if you have a current backup somewhere else, you could enable a password and if possible, set the number of Password Tries to ONE. Wipe if they don't get it the first time! I don't think this will help if you happen to have an mp3 or video you have improperly "borrowed" on the SD card! And, yes, that could be contraband.

We can give up a lot of freedoms in the name of security - it is a matter of tradeoffs. Some are willing to go all the way and others not so far.