Law: Traveling this summer? Avoid a "Suspicionless Search"

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion in the caseU.S. v. Arnold holding that the Fourth Amendment does not require government agents to have reasonable suspicion before searching laptops at the border, including international airports. Meanwhile, a number of national newspapers have documented unnerving reports from travelers whose electronic devices have been seized as they crossed U.S. borders.

Troublingly, you may be at risk even if you don't travel -- businesses and organizations that you interact with may do business in other countries. A suspicionless laptop search at the border could expose your information to the government To make matters worse, it's not clear how or when the government might copy and store travelers' data, share it with others, or use it in the future.

Despite simple requests for more information by individuals and government watchdogs, the agency responsible for searches at the border has failed to respond effectively. The Fourth Amendment protects us all against unreasonable government intrusions. But this guarantee means nothing if Customs and Border Patrol can arbitrarily search and seize our digital information at the border and indefinitely store and reuse it.

If your legislators are members of the appropriate congressional committees listed below, take action! Call or email and let them know that our electronic privacy needs to be protected!
More information here from the Electronic Freedom Foundation.