New Rules on Border Searches of Laptops in the US

WTF? - "The rules permit searches of such devices without a person's consent" In other words you have no choice but to allow it if you are required by the agent at the border. What is a little disturbing that they can also "hold the devices or the data, which may be copied without the knowledge of the owner for further review, according to the rules." So if you got any personal information stored on any electronic devices you cannot expect privacy when crossing the border.

Between October 1, 2008 and August 11, 2009, 221 million travelers were processed at U.S. borders and about 1,000 searches of laptop computers were conducted, of which 46 were in-depth examinations, the agency said.

Searches often involve asking people to turn on the device to verify it is what it appears to be, the DHS said.

Privacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have pushed Congress to stop border officers from searching laptops, cell phones and other electronic devices without probable cause when people enter or return to the country.

The rules permit searches of such devices without a person's consent. The review is to be done in the presence of the owner, unless there are national security or law enforcement reasons to conduct it elsewhere.

Immigration and customs officers can also hold the devices or the data, which may be copied without the knowledge of the owner for further review, according to the rules.

The new regulations note that border officers should be particularly careful when handling legal or business materials or other sensitive data like medical records or information carried by journalists.