This Washington Post story details the security measures being taken on foreign-looking people traveling with laptops or cellphones.
quote:The reason for a search is not always made clear. The Association of Corporate Travel Executives, which represents 2,500 business executives in the United States and abroad, said it has tracked complaints from several members, including Udy, whose laptops have been seized and their contents copied before usually being returned days later, said Susan Gurley, executive director of ACTE. Gurley said none of the travelers who have complained to the ACTE raised concerns about racial or ethnic profiling. Gurley said none of the travelers were charged with a crime.
"I was assured that my laptop would be given back to me in 10 or 15 days," said Udy, who continues to fly into and out of the United States. She said the federal agent copied her log-on and password, and asked her to show him a recent document and how she gains access to Microsoft Word. She was asked to pull up her e-mail but could not because of lack of Internet access. With ACTE's help, she pressed for relief. More than a year later, Udy has received neither her laptop nor an explanation.
Posted by happysmiley (Member # 9703) on :
That's pretty racist. So by foreign they mean Middle East and by traveling they are expecting terrosist attacks.
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
No, but I'm a white guy, so I don't fit their profile.
I would not fly if I had to turn over my laptop. There is company and customer proprietary info on there.
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
Damn it. I hate all this Big Brother stuff. The government needs to take a step back and respect the rights of the individual again.
Who cares what information I have on my laptop or cell phone? I can send the information over an encrypted connection or mail it secretly - you can't stop it.
Confiscating a laptop or searching the information is just bullying and posturing. It accomplishes nothing.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
So when the gov't steals "stuff" in the name of security it's a problem but when they steal money to give it to people who didn't earn it, it's ok?
Why the selective outrage?
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
This violation of rights is getting really scary to me. I tend to be hard to rile up, but if they asked me to turn over my laptop, I wouldn't fly either, and there's nothing on there that matters to anyone but me. I would refuse as a matter of principle, and then make as huge a ruckus as possible. I'm as white as they come and not likely to be profiled, but who knows when this invasion of privacy is going to become more generalized. I feel like we're all being conditioned to accept it.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Abhi could pass as a Middle Eastern man (lighter-skinned Indian), and has a "foreign" name, altho not an Islamic one. He gets the extra search at security a lot, but has never had anyone take away anything. He breezed through Dulles immigration last month, but he now has a green card, which helps. They did make him open & taste his homemade pickle (pickled salty spicy mango jam stuff) a couple of years ago when he was flying into the US from India.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Uprooted: I tend to be hard to rile up, but if they asked me to turn over my laptop, I wouldn't fly either, and there's nothing on there that matters to anyone but me. I would refuse as a matter of principle, and then make as huge a ruckus as possible. I'm as white as they come and not likely to be profiled, but who knows when this invasion of privacy is going to become more generalized. I feel like we're all being conditioned to accept it.
Agreed completely.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I agree too.
I don't see how it's not unconstitutional. I don't know of a law where they would be allowed to confiscate your personal property that isn't a weapon without just cause.
Otherwise it's a fishing expedition.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
No, but I've been through "additional screening" a few times now. It's been interesting seeing how different airports operate.
--j_k
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Cuz the government gave ya the money in the first place, The Pixiest. Don't believe me, move to Zimbabwe.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Pixiest: So when the gov't steals "stuff" in the name of security it's a problem but when they steal money to give it to people who didn't earn it, it's ok?
Why the selective outrage?
What exactly are you referring to?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I want to say Pix is talking about taxes and welfare.