U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops

U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops

www.reuters.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

Agents are empowered to share the contents of seized computers with other agencies and private entities for data decryption and other reasons, the newspaper said.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This certainly makes me feel safer, how about you guys?

www.reuters.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

:shk:

I complained about this back in February and received little interest.

Apparently, this is ok.



What nonsense.

Can anyone even recognize the country we live in????

EDIT:

And did anyone catch the IPOD border seizure angle and possible prosecutions related to music you can't prove you own?

Senate, House Merge Separate, Controversial Anti-Piracy Bills into One

The EFF points out that EIPRA, combined with secretive negotiations currently underway in the secretive, international ACTA treaty, would empower border agents to seize equipment like iPods if consumers bring them across country lines. This would in turn force music fans, travelling DJs, and anyone who carries an iPod or CD carrier with burned, backed up, copied, or compilation discs to prove their ownership – or face having their equipment destroyed.

See also:

Airport scans for illegal downloads on iPods, mobile phones and laptops

US/Canada Border Guards:Check IPODs, Laptops, Illegal Music Downloads?

Make sure you travel with all of your receipts.

[edit on 1-8-2008 by loam]

This is B.S.

Makes me want to purchase a laptop that only contains a FlashFile with Blinking Graphics that read "Your Mom" on it...

Screw it...my laptop stays at home if and when I get the chance to travel...they have just given people the right to arbitrarily point the finger at an innocent citizen and put them through unnecessary hassle and invasion of privacy.

And they can share it?!?

Welcome to the united snakes
Land of the thief, home of the slave
Grand imperial guard where the dollar is sacred

from Brother Ali - Uncle Samn Goddamn

Lyrics Link

reply to post by MemoryShock


Companies are already implementing policies prohibiting employees from traveling with company equipment internationally.

I'm still amazed things have progressed this far.

reply to 1st post by loam


That is even more disturbing. I don't understand why they can get away with this at airports - I guess people are more likely to believe that this huge invasion of privacy is somehow making them safer from those ever-lurking terrorists.

[edit on 1-8-2008 by MeanDirtyKiller]

and the most important thing is there is absolutely no point in it.

if I want to get files into the US or out the US I can use FTP or micro sd card that is smaller than my fingernail.

so it is only about CONTROL.

Next they will be taking woman's pantyhose because it can be used to strangle

It still amazes me how little interest there appears in this topic:

The policies cover "any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form," including hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes. They also cover "all papers and other written documentation," including books, pamphlets and "written materials commonly referred to as 'pocket trash' or 'pocket litter.' "

Link.

Really think about that!

All of it can be taken...from citizens...without suspicion...in the UNTIED STATES!!!

:shk:

Originally posted by solo1
Next they will be taking woman's pantyhose because it can be used to strangle

I don't find that clever at all...just so you know...

This is not a one line post.

Look in reality this is nothing new.Cops can pretty much take what ever they want off you whenever they want for whatever they want.
And just say its because they suspected you were being naughty with it.
Nothin new......

Originally posted by loam

The policies cover "any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form," including hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes. They also cover "all papers and other written documentation," including books, pamphlets and "written materials commonly referred to as 'pocket trash' or 'pocket litter.' "

Link.

All of it can be taken...from citizens...without suspicion...in the UNTIED STATES!!!

I am surprised as well...if I was detained at the airport because someone wanted to download the contents of my iPod...I would have serious issues.

People pay good money to travel on a pre-determined schedule...and to delay said schedule which I based on my good faith payment for a pre-determined schedule because I wanted my electronics for a twelve hour flight is ludicrous.

I fear the tongue lashing a hapless security guard gets when he is trying to say that I might be a terrorist. Emphasis on tongue lashing.

I'm not shy.....and I know that they are doing their job. Doesn't mean that they won't hear about it...

reply to post by loam


Alright, alright, let me get my "indignity" hat.
What the heck is going on in this country? Aren't we protected against unreasonable searches? And so on, and so forth.
Loam, I'm afraid I like many others have had our liberties pecked away over so long that it is getting harder and harder to get geared up every time news like this breaks. In this case, like it has been mentioned before on this thread, this measure is pretty useless. Would anyone with evil intention actually keep evidence in their hard drive.
Bro, while we're taking off our shoes at the airport and handing out our laptops any real threat is snow shoeing from Canada and walking from Mexico.
If you really want to mess with them, store a virus in your computer that would be unleashed if it were to be used by anyone but yourself. One network connection on their end, they'll be rethinking this policy.

[edit on 8/2/2008 by schrodingers dog]

Originally posted by MemoryShock
Emphasis on tongue lashing.

Unfortunately, I no longer think such distinctions very meaningful. In fact, I think a "tongue lashing", however benign, incurs a significant risk of being characterized as an unjustifiable attack on legitimate government process...and therefore potentially VERY damaging to your health or freedom.

No, I'm afraid, we will suck it up and take it like good little citizens. It's how things have gotten this far...

The part they are not telling the sheeple is that they can seize, download and store data from laptops and electronic devices from people on the political enemies "watch list" people who threaten their corruption and deception, Human rights workers who have worked for years to gain the trust of good people working on the inside in very bad places. Journalists with photos and documents exposing waste, fraud and abuse of power and their contact information.
People who travel with sensitive intellectual property that can be used for industrial espionage.

Now that this practice has become public, it has destroyed the trust of critical and beneficial
relationships who have now cut off any contact between trusted parties out of fear for themselves or their families.

Even more disturbing, they can attempt to FORCE you to give them your private encryption
key information or seize your device.

The work around is to wipe your drive to default and upload any work related data to
a secure server, then download the information you need once you arrive at your destination.

The "Terror Industry" is out of control.

Originally posted by loam

Originally posted by MemoryShock
Emphasis on tongue lashing.

Unfortunately, I no longer think such distinctions very meaningful. In fact, I think a "tongue lashing", however benign, incurs a significant risk of being characterized as an unjustifiable attack on legitimate government process...and therefore potentially VERY damaging to your health or freedom.

I know.

Talking, regardless of how heated, is preferable when done explicitly and with the other person in mind, i.e. stating a comprehension of their situation, then merely voicing your rights. You have to keep in mind that many of these people are just following orders...they are not the entity that passed the law and they have been convinced through necessity of their livlihood that these actions should transpire.

I do not advocate hostility. Never. And noone here should infer that or practice that.

But...if we all just acquiesce, then what is the point of discussion?

I am not suggesting refusal of cooperation...I am suggesting not allowing it.

That could even take the form of not bringing an electronic device for travel. Relevant files or media could be placed on a public server....easily by-passing this new imposition...which gets me thinking even more...as you said, companies are already instituting policy to prohibit company travel with company electronics (not so yet in my experience, as my roommate just left for Europe with a company issued laptop a week ago).

My point is...don't let them do it. Even if you have to leave it behind. There are interweb ways (and I would love for them to try and find a secure thumbstick in a heavily packed bag) to transfer information.

They should just ban international travel with electronic media altogether.

Instead, they are harping on the individual who doesn't deserve it.

Which gets my goat...:shrugs:

reply to post by MeanDirtyKiller


This is the part of the article that really bothers me:

Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

So basically it boils down to a, 'Hey you. We want your stuff.' Sorry but as a former flight attendant who has had just about every possession you can imagine confiscated (even while in uniform) post 9/11, I'm pretty jaded. Blow dryers, cosmetics, watches, manicure/pedicure tools, my travel blender for my protein shakes, even a belt I bought on a layover back in 2002, etc. Way, way overboard.

The travel industry is already in trouble due to quadrupling of fuel costs.
These measures will cost many travel industry workers their livelihood.

As time goes on, smart business will change their game plan to use secure
broadband video conferencing rather than putting up with this insulting
abuse of power.

Originally posted by FallenFromTheTree

Even more disturbing, they can attempt to FORCE you to give them your private encryption
key information or seize your device.

Why not encrypt the entire hard drive and set up a "hidden" operating system. That way, if you are "forced" to give up your information and the key to unlock it, you can appear as if you are cooperating, and all they get is a computer with nothing of particular value --- plausible deniability. The encryption software I use is called TrueCrypt, a free open-source on-the-fly encryption package. It's usually one of the first things I install on a new laptop. Never leave home without it. If my laptop is ever stolen, I would take great comfort in knowing that the data is completely useless to the thief.

For more info on TrueCrypt and it's features, and general info on harddrive encryption and plausible deniability, check out www.truecrypt.org...