Snowman
07-27-2006, 11:39 PM
From Peter's Reviews
http://www.petersreviews.com/index.php?/archives/2050-Border-Agents-Are-Allowed-To-Search-Your-Laptop.html
According to ArsTechnica, It seems that border agents are now allowed to search your laptop when you cross the border. They recounted a story where border agents used special software to find child pornography on someone's computer who had a criminal record. That's got to be pretty scary for anyone who might have bought their laptop used. But are border agents allowed to do whatever they want with your laptop?
From ArsTechnica: The case made its way to a Nevada court, which found Romm guilty. An appeal of the case went to the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, which was charged with deciding an important issue: can border patrol agents search laptops without a warrant and without probable cause? The court's ruling was handed down on Monday, and said that yes, agents can search laptops for any reason.
I guess the morale of the story is to check out your own computer to make sure it's clean. So many people (including myself) own used laptops. If the previous owner did anything illegal with it, the current owner will be responsible! Pretty scary stuff!
http://www.petersreviews.com/index.php?/archives/2050-Border-Agents-Are-Allowed-To-Search-Your-Laptop.html
According to ArsTechnica, It seems that border agents are now allowed to search your laptop when you cross the border. They recounted a story where border agents used special software to find child pornography on someone's computer who had a criminal record. That's got to be pretty scary for anyone who might have bought their laptop used. But are border agents allowed to do whatever they want with your laptop?
From ArsTechnica: The case made its way to a Nevada court, which found Romm guilty. An appeal of the case went to the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, which was charged with deciding an important issue: can border patrol agents search laptops without a warrant and without probable cause? The court's ruling was handed down on Monday, and said that yes, agents can search laptops for any reason.
I guess the morale of the story is to check out your own computer to make sure it's clean. So many people (including myself) own used laptops. If the previous owner did anything illegal with it, the current owner will be responsible! Pretty scary stuff!