Court Says Border Agents Can Search Your Laptop

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

Customs agents already have the power now to search your luggage when you cross borders, thanks to a circuit court ruling, they have the power to inspect the data on your laptops as well. The decision was handed down relating to this case:

Stuart Romm boarded a plane in Las Vegas on February 1, 2004. When he got off the plane in British Columbia, Canada's Border Services Agency stopped Romm for questioning. After learning that Romm had a criminal background, Agent Keith Brown searched his laptop and discovered child porn sites in Romm's Internet history list. Canada then bundled Romm back onto a plane to Seattle, where US Customs agents had a chance to question him further.

We've heard of cases of 1-hour photo stores calling the police when they find people's pictures of their infants, semi-clothed, on vacation. Imagine the misunderstanding it will cause when customs agents find the same thing on your laptops—or possibly digital cameras as well.

[Phat]

theyll probably find transexuals but not child porn!

[specialk]

Customs agents already have the power now to search your luggage when you cross borders, thanks to a circuit court ruling, they have the power to inspect the data on your laptops as well. The decision was handed down relating to this case:

Stuart Romm boarded a plane in Las Vegas on February 1, 2004. When he got off the plane in British Columbia, Canada's Border Services Agency stopped Romm for questioning. After learning that Romm had a criminal background, Agent Keith Brown searched his laptop and discovered child porn sites in Romm's Internet history list. Canada then bundled Romm back onto a plane to Seattle, where US Customs agents had a chance to question him further.

We've heard of cases of 1-hour photo stores calling the police when they find people's pictures of their infants, semi-clothed, on vacation. Imagine the misunderstanding it will cause when customs agents find the same thing on your laptops—or possibly digital cameras as well.

There are several issues at play here for me. first, the Canadian government has on the books some laws that allow the background check in the first place ( I'm assuming here). The criminal record that came up would give them probable cause to check the PC. Let's say for instance the record had something to do with child porn in some way. Finding the Inet history of child porn sites visited is a big problem. And secondly, if he is involved with child porn, I personaly, hope they throw the book at him!

As far as any traveler having his PC looked at, you must realize the Patriot Act here in the U.S. gives the feds free reign to look at anything they want. I disagree with much of the Patriot Act, for privacy reasons especially if you are a law abiding citizen. Bottom line......traveller beware!

[DonPA]

I have nothing that would get me thrown in jail on my laptop, but stuff that may be embarrassing like T-Girls and such, but if they want in my computer, I'll be damned if I am going to give them the password to get into my stuff, although I'm sure they got software or techs who can crack the codes.