Summary: Recently released documents show that the U.S. Government has been using border crossings as a way of searching and seizing electronic devices of travelers re-entering the country. Of these travelers, the most notable is David House, fund-raiser for the legal defense of Chelsea Manning (formerly Pfc. Bradley Manning), the person who leaked over 70,000 classified government files to WikiLeaks. In November 2010. House's cellphone, camera, laptop, and thumb drive were all confiscated and examined on his way back from a trip to Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security said that it conducted electronic media searches on almost 5,000 from October 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013, which results in close to fifteen per day.
Analysis: I don't think it's right for travelers to have their electronic devices confiscated at the border, whether they are considered a "suspicious person" or not. Obviously if there is a specific reason for their belongings to be examined then it should be allowed, but otherwise these actions violate the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires search warrants. It's unfortunate for House to have had his devices confiscated, but the article does state that his name did come up when searched in government or NSA indexes because of his link to Manning.
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/business/the-border-is-a-back-door-for-us-device-searches.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&ref=us
I completely agree. Electronic devices are not allowed and they should stick to the rule. It's for our own safety and even if we aren't 'suspicious people' we have no right to use them.
ReplyDelete