Should customs search travelers' laptops?

[gateley]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Amir Khan says he becomes frustrated and humiliated every time he enters the United States and federal agents search his computers. Khan, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, says it has happened five times since 2003.

He says agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection have even forced him to give them access to password-protected, confidential information from his company and his banking records.

An IT consultant who travels to Europe, Turkey and Pakistan, Khan says he has cooperated with the questions and searches but feels by now border agents should know he doesn't pose a threat. snip

The Customs and Border Protection defends the searches, saying the agency does not need to show probable cause to look inside suitcases or laptops.

"We have broad search authority at the borders to determine admissibility and look for anything that may be in violation of criminal law," says agency spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger.

Hollinger says electronic devices could contain evidence of possible ties to terrorism, narcotics smuggling, child pornography and other criminal activities.

Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, equates searches of electronic devices to those of papers in briefcases.

"You forgo your right to privacy when you are seeking admission into the country," he says. "This is the kind of scrutiny the American public expects."
snip

more ..... http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/02/11/laptop.searches/index.html

[bullimiami]

1. Police state 2008

"You forgo your right to privacy when you are seeking admission into the country,"

Hes a CITIZEN. What a fascist pile of shit our government has evolved into.

[gateley]

3. Absolutely. That's what I thought when the customs person said

"if you want to get into our country"... It's HIS country too, for chrissake!

I wonder if a Dem gets into office, if some of this crap will be stopped. I assumed it would, but when I think about it, not so sure....

[bullimiami]

6. i am truly not so sure any of it will be stopped.

the spying, the war, the jackboots on the neck, the descent into fascism...

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Only a deliberately terrified American public expects people to be treated as criminals.

[gateley]

4. They're working on getting us there, and the've done an admirable job thus far.

[endarkenment]

5. No. It is bullshit.

Legally they have the power to do this, it is just unneccesary, unneeded, and intended only to demonstrate their authority.