Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Scripps Employees Called 'Hackers' For Exposing Massive Security Flaw
Feds Promise Faster Action, Transparency in Laptop Searches
Powerful entities like Wisconsin's Democratic Senator Russell Feingold and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have both voiced concerns with the policy, pushing for measures that would better protect civil liberties and ensure government accountability. Of the changes in policy, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told the Wall Street Journal that the government would begin to better document gadget searches and seizures, and return said gadgets more quickly to travelers. According to the policy changes, border agents will be able to hold devices for five days, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees will be able to do so for up to 30. Still, investigating agents will require neither a traveler's permission nor probable cause.
While Feingold seems content with the changes, the ACLU is not. On behalf of the organization, ACLU counsel Chris Calabrese told the Journal, "We are still talking about the searches of everyone's laptops without standards." It should be noted that, as invasive as all this might sound, such searches and seizures are rare (if you take the government's word for it, at least). The Feds claimed yesterday that -- from Oct. 1, 2008 up to a couple weeks ago -- only 1,000 laptops were taken from the hands of the 221 million travelers that passed through. Of those, officials said, only 46 were given in-depth inspections. [From: Wall Street Journal]
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Xbox One hardware and specs: 8-core CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB hard drive and more
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Editorial: Engadget on the Xbox One
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
Bridge Collapses In Washington State
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
Help For Heroes Killing
Has Katie Holmes Moved On?
The World's Most Powerful Women
WATCH: The World's First Digital Photo
Comments
3
Subscribe to commentstdorsett7Aug 29th 2009 12:18PM
This is totally uncalled for and a blatant invasion of privacy.
NicoletteAug 29th 2009 8:27PM
no one has any business searching anything with out a warrant. We've given up our rights- we now only have the rights when and where they choose to let us 'have' them.
SallijaneAug 29th 2009 9:33PM
NIcolette, you are so right. From Watergate to the present, it has only been getting worse. We must take back the rights defined in the constitution, and make sure that the citizens are watching the government.