EFF To Fight Border Agent Laptop Searches

Slashdot notes that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives have filed an amicus brief requesting that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rehear and reverse a three-judge ruling that permits border agents to routinely search files on laptops and mobile devices.

The random searching of laptops is "widespread," said Lee Tien, senior staff attorney with the EFF. The U.S. Department of Justice "claims that U.S. border agents have the power to do so, no suspicion needed, and there are plenty of reported incidents," he added.

Tien noted that there have been multiple media reports in recent months of laptops or other electronic devices being searched or seized at U.S. borders. In some cases, customs officials have not returned the electronic devices to travelers.

See details at InfoWorld.