US judge rules warrantless gadget searches at the border are constitutional

[qwertywarrior]

US judge rules warrantless gadget searches at the border are   constitutional

 

A United States district judge has ruled that gadget searches upon crossing into the US aren't a breach of the First and Fourth Amendments. In 2010, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Press Photographers and grad student Pascal Abidor challenged the 2008 ruling that authorizes unwarranted device search-and-seizures, saying that they exist to counteract protected speech and certain confidentiality privileges. However, district judge Edward Korman remarks that because the chance of the searches is so low (he estimates odds of less than five in a million, although the government's count has been disputed) there aren't any grounds for dismissing the rulings.

He further states that this is no different than having your baggage or person examined before crossing into the US, and that the government simply doesn't have enough resources to inspect the devices of everyone who enters the country. Most worrying however is when Korman says that it's "foolish, if not irresponsible" that the plaintiffs would store sensitive data on their gadgets in the first place. The ACLU is considering appealing the decision but attorney Catherine Crump tells the New York Times that for now the status quo remains, and in many areas of the country, "the government is free...to conduct all types of electronic device searches without reasonable suspicion."

 

http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/01/laptop-gadget-searches-upheld/

 

i guess this happened after the leaks

this is pathetic

this will be used to target certain individuals

[Vitalius]

Could you change it to "are constituational"?

Double negatives just confuse me.

[kuddlesworth9419]

People should go and watch the Zeitgeis Movie. And then they will realise that our governments don't give a damn weather or not something is unconstitutional because all they care about is themselves. 

[Vitalius]

qwertywarrior Thank you.

[qwertywarrior]

qwertywarrior Thank you.

the reason it said "anrt unconstitutional"

is because it was said that it was Unconstitutional

[dizmo]

Not surprising. It's been that way for a long time, on both sides of the border. Canada has the same policy.

[totjup5]

Fuck that. I'm encrypting everything and i'll just make a backup and wipe all of my devices before crossing any borders.

[Mooshi]

Whoever that paid off judge was, I hope a rabid badger has their way with them.These spineless fucks need to get out of my country.

[Threebuddies]

Fuck that. I'm encrypting everything and i'll just make a backup and wipe all of my devices before crossing any borders.

Sure you will...

[Wingingchase]

I really love america!

[qwertywarrior]

Sure you will...

many people already do that when crossing borders

TrueCrypt is a great tool

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

many people already do that when crossing borders

TrueCrypt is a great tool

Citation needed.

[dizmo]

Ok, I've really gotta ask. What exactly are you afraid that they'll find when they search your laptop or phone?
I understand the whole privacy thing, but honestly I wouldn't care if they spot searched me. So they'd find the naked pics a girl sent me. Big deal.

There are numerous instances where they've stopped people from entering the country illegally, or found that they straight up lied to the border official.

 

Though if you text your drug dealer, make sure you delete those messages. Had some friends that didn't and they had their phones searched. If you admit that you've smoked marijuana in the past, they can ban you from entry for life.

[Threebuddies]

many people already do that when crossing borders

TrueCrypt is a great tool

Encrypting a hard drive and formatting one are VERY different.