re Good Read FBI avoids warrant by having TSA search computer at airport

[Dave Farber <dfarber () me com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Tom Cross <tom () memestreams net>
> Date: April 22, 2010 8:59:58 AM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Cc: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>, spaf () cerias purdue edu
> Subject: Re: [IP] re Good Read FBI avoids warrant by having TSA search computer at airport

> A difference of degree can be a difference in kind. Performing a detailed analysis of a large archive of someone's 
> thoughts and personal correspondence over the course of several days in search of any evidence of law breaking is a 
> far cry from merely opening their luggage. The mission and the privacy impact have expanded significantly - largely 
> as a consequence of an accident of technological change rather than a deliberate policy choice.
>
> As Jay Stanley mentioned, in the US "reasonable suspicion" must be established before intrusive searches like "body 
> cavity searches" are performed. I think that same rule should be applied to laptop searches. It would prevent them 
> from occurring at random or per a quota.
>
> The reason I'm focused on US policy is because I'm a US citizen. I understand how the US legal system works, and I 
> have a right to an opinion about it. Certainly when traveling outside the United States one has to consider the 
> political system of the destination country, but I do, in fact, hope that most free countries will ultimately 
> conclude that suspicionless laptop searches go too far.
>
> Unfortunately, that is not the case today. Canadian customs, for example, recently searched U.S. Journalist Amy 
> Goodman's laptop with the overt intent of determining what she was planning to write about the winter olympics. 
> Fortunately, I think that progress on this front in the U.S. will influence a similar dialog that is happening in 
> Canada. [1]
>
> [1] http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/canadian-customs-ref.html
>
> On Apr 21, 2010, at 12:43 PM, David Farber wrote:
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: Gene Spafford <spaf () cerias purdue edu>
> > Date: April 19, 2010 4:53:37 PM EDT
> > To: dave () farber net
> > Cc: "ip" <ip () v2 listbox com>
> > Subject: Re: [IP] Good Read FBI avoids warrant by having TSA search computer at airport
> >
> > Every country asserts that its agents have the right to inspect items coming across their borders.   The US is not 
> > different.   Furthermore, they may perform a "deep" inspection of your papers and luggage.
> >
> > So why do people think that laptops should somehow be "special"?   If they can look at your papers, take apart your 
> > suitcase, and even perform a body cavity search before you enter the country, what makes those files on disk so 
> > special?   And they may do the same in France, China, Brazil, Australia, Uganda, Israel,  and.... so why single out 
> > the US?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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