[OFB Cafe] Homeland Security: We can seize laptops for an indefinite period

[Peter Hollings]

My understanding is that the Constitution makes searches and seizures 
dependent on a warrant based on probable cause.  What I think is going 
on is a hyped up program to grant the government powers that would 
ordinarily require Constitutional amendment, but are accepted because of 
public fear. We have color coded alerts and Anthrax attacks that have 
now been traced back to government labs, including allegations that the 
government tried to have forged a letter tying the attacks to Iraq ( 
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/01/anthrax/  ).

Isn't it time that we began asking questions?

Peter Hollings

Rick Bowers wrote:
>    From a few days ago on CNet news.
>    With  everything  else  going  on  these  days,  I find this to be yet
>    another  annoyance as a result of 9/11. Airport security is a joke. It
>    does   little   more   than  to  slow  things  down  and  make  flying
>    inconvenient. Now, I can get to a customer with the information I need
>    but it may be confiscated upon my return. I guess I'd better make full
>    backups before I travel now.
>    The  article  states "... customs agents can routinely--as a matter of
>    course--   seize,   make  copies  of,  and  "analyze  the  information
>    transported  by  any individual attempting to enter, re-enter, depart,
>    pass through, or reside in the United States.""
>    So  even if I'm flying domestically, this could apply. Of course, it's
>    rare to see customs agents at the gates of domestic flights.
>    ~Rick
>    August 1, 2008 10:25 AM PDT
>
>        Homeland Security: We can seize laptops for an indefinite period
>
>    Posted by [1]Declan McCullagh [2]112 comments
>    The  U.S.  Department  of Homeland Security has concocted a remarkable
>    new policy: It reserves the right to seize for an indefinite period of
>    time laptops taken across the border.
>    Read the whole article:
>    [3]http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10004646-38.html
>
> References
>
>    1. http://news.cnet.com/8300-13578_3-38.html?authorId=111
>    2. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10004646-38.html#comments
>    3. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10004646-38.html
>
>   
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> OfB Cafe - Cafe at ofb.biz
> Brought to you by your friends at Open for Business.
> http://ofb.biz/mailman/listinfo/cafe_ofb.biz
>
> DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this mailinglist are the personal
> opinions of the author and do not represent those of Open for Business.