Court Says Border Patrol Can Look Through Your Hard Drive
from the so-says-the-courts dept
A court of appeals has determined that, if you're entering the US, border guards have every right to search through the contents of your laptop, even if they have no reason to be suspicious. This fits with an earlier Supreme Court ruling that basically said the 4th Amendment doesn't apply at the border. All this case does is say that the data on your laptop is equally available to border guards. The author of the News.com article, Declan McCullough, suggests people learn how to encrypt data on their laptops if they're worried -- but will that matter? What happens if the border guards ask to see the encrypted data as well? What are the limits? Also, we've noted in the past that officials have used just the presence of encryption software as evidence that you may have committed a crime, so encrypting data you'd like to keep confidential hardly seems likely to protect that data.
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So much to hide
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Remove Important Data
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Re:
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RE homeland security
Will this stop the kidds porn perverts NO it will not .
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Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
It's better to keep your mouth closed (or your hands off your keyboard) and have people think that you are a moron than to open your mouth (or start typing) and prove that you are one.
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Re: RE homeland security
Funny, because Bush got elected on a platform of minimizing the federal government, and talked about eliminating various federal agencies.
After 9/11, the public demanded a more authoritarian federal government, so Bush went against his election promises and responded to public opinion. Now public opinion blames Bush for respecting public opinion.
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Re:
The USA has become more like Canada or Europe, where an intrusive government is taken for granted. Overly assertive individuals who make a big deal out of privacy are accused of being "too American".
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Gotta check everywhere for fireworks!
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RE: homeland security
Gee Dorpus, I don't recall any demand for that at all. I do recall a lot of cowardly sheep responding to fear mongering politicians though.
In days gone by, "You talk - we listen." was just a commercial for a stock broker. Now it's the policy of this administration.
What the hell happened to the people of America?
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Re: RE: homeland security
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Applying to the airports?
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Very very interesting to read you...from Brussels, Belgium !
You have a lovely blog ! Very nice !
Thanks for that !
Congratulations.
Regards
Reno
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Re: Applying to the airports?
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Not only did el presidente bush break his campaign promises and spit on public opinion, but he wiped his arse with the Constitution and is de-Americanizing America. Shame on him and his supporters.
As far as Dems are concerned, it's pretty hard to blame them for any of the mismanagement of the last several years when 1. they are continually accused of never having solutions and, oh yeah, 2. they have absolutely no power. No executive branch, no judicial branch, and neither half of the legislative branches. Maybe if Republicans would spend a little less time on flag burning and gay marriage, they could come off as marginally competent....
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Hmmm...
What would they do then?
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All else fails just sftp the data although that may take some time.
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I have a better idea...
You should try using steganography with encryption instead. Here is a sample program I wrote (it is very poorly implemented (the gui is terrible) and maybe not stable) but does demonstrate the power. It will slightly change the color of the pixels in any given bmp photo to create space for you to store data. In fact, you can take a screen shot of your encoded photo, paste that as a new file in photoshop and still be able to read the contents, since it is only trimming the least significant bits. Try it out, its free, and a wimpy program, but I use it to store my accounts and passwords. Please do not criticize it, it was just a personal scratch item I wrote. I guess I could have gone all out and made it nice, but hey, I have a life beyond writing free code.
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Here's a thought
-Just a thought
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Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
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Re: Re: RE: homeland security
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Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
The best systems of control, are those formed out of agreement.
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Re: Re: Applying to the airports?
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Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
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HIPAA vs. Border Security hmmmm..
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lol
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Re: Here's a thought
-Just a thought"
well, i don't want everyon in the world to know what i game, what i keep on my harddrive, what music i like, things of that nature. if it's wrong to "hide what is right" why do we locks on our doors, why are our houses not see through? we expect privacy. would you want someone to come in and look through your dirty laundry? snoop around in your attic? i know i woudln't. and with that being said, i wouldn't want anyone to see what i do on my computer.
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Re: Here's a thought
What if they are business secrets, or your own medical files, or similar? What if you are an inventor and there are invention ideas on your pc? There should always be a way to make data private.
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Why don't you....
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Re: HIPAA vs. Border Security hmmmm..
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Re: RE homeland security
laptop's HD and my floppy disks almost 10 years
ago. I'm told it was to look for smuggled
software (by a third party) but I think they
were just being pricks because they suspected
I was taking work away from Canadians.
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Re: Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
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Re: Re: RE homeland security
Damn red states.
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-Just a thought"
That's an idiotic statement - once you let government have that kind of control - they'll start going further... Next thing you know, the thought police will be in effect. Say the wrong thing - well, you just did something wrong - off to jail with you.
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Re: Here's a thought
Damn red states.
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Yes... maybe Bush can't read, but you can't write - not only are those sentences pathetic, but you misspelled "coincidently".
Real sharp :)
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encryption
The red state vs. blue state thing is such a pile of bullshit, way to perpetuate politics as usual.
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They just like to keep the 'partisan' debate going as a smoke screen to what's really going on.
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You are all idiots
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Re: Here's a thought
That sensitive research data that I'm bringing back with me...
Any personal info that I keep about myself (encrypted or not)...
Anything that is encrypted. In the eyes of most security forces encryption = suspicion instead encryption = safety (which is what you intended.)
Care to explain how "The whole reason to hide something, is simpley because it is wrong."? Or does that mean hiding anything is automatically wrong. Remember that the next time someone asks you for your voicemail, email, and login passwords.
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WTF?
Why don't you stick to the topic at hand, because no one cares about any of your political opinions, if they did someone would ask you about it, then after hearing it, promptly smack you because you're an idiot. Personally I think if you don't do anything illegal (i.e. child porn) then you have nothing to worry about and the government can be as invasive as they want."
You miss the USSR don't you?
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In closing, the patriot act was probably a bad idea to begin with.
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OH MY GOD
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Did anyone actually RTFA??
Moral of the story: DON'T AGREE, make them get a warrant.
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"Wrong" things that I might want to keep private
-Corporate info, ie concerning merger
-Financial data, including my bank account numbers
-E-books (esp. concerning things I may not want everyone to know, ie "Coping with Cancer/AIDS," "How to Get Girls," "Xena: Warrior Princess")
-Photos that while not explicit, may be embarassing
-Personal journal type writing
-Something that might offend someone for whatever reason (ie "Right-wingers are destroying the country")
-My awesome idea for a new invention
-My private emails and auto-logged instant messages
-All the info from my PDA and cell phone, since they sync with my computer
Not to mention, some idiot border cop could do damage to your system, either through accidentally deleting files or physical damage. And what if I'm trying to conserve my battery for the rest of my trip (a common problem of mine)?
These anti-privacy people are such morons... By their definition, the entire bush administration is wrong, considering their secretiveness (then again...most of the stuff bush hides IS wrong). Maybe they need to leave their computer screen for a few minutes and get in touch with the real world.
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Re: Did anyone actually RTFA??
Moral of the story: DON'T AGREE, make them get a warrant."
if you make them, they will detain you, and ifyou have important business schedueled, or another flight or whatnot....you could be delayed.
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Yet Another Intelligence Agency?
Then look at who took over as director.
Then fast forward 30 years and look at this administration, it's tactics, and it's results.
It's all the usual suspects.
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Re: Re: Applying to the airports?
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Re: Here's a thought
I'd much rather trust my own devices for personal security than put my trust in the theory that disgruntled employees do not exist.
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That logic is hogwash. Because I do not want my privacy invaded does not equal or imply that I am doing anything illegal.
I once told police I objected to them searching my car. I went through the indignance of them getting a warrant, bringing a drug dog, and searching. And they found ZERO as I knew they would. I then sued for being illegally detained AND WON. There was no probable cause to be pulled over. i was not cited for any traffic offense. A rookie cop was trying to make a name for himself. And I beat him. BAd.
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And for all of you blaming Bush. This would have happened whether he was in office or not. This was a Court case stemming from actions of agents in the field. Bush is not in direct control of either of those events. Bush did not write the policies of the border patrol and he did not write the court opinion. Assign blame where it belongs and you might just be able to make some headway against the problem. Keep focusing on your attention in the wrong place and you'll never get anywhere.
Drawing any conclusions about his opinion on the matter without hearing it from him personally is making the same mistake those border agents made. Guilt by assocation.
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Re: You are all idiots
So you wouldn't mind them strip searching you, your (possible) significant other, your (possible) children, etc... To look for whatever they damn well please?
If you're going to blindly follow The Leader, what's the point of making any ostensive comments at all? Remember, they will protect you, they will tell you what to do, they will tell you how to think.
It's ignorant people like you, Jake, that make this world the way it is.
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and dont forget the people who forget that the american continent extends all the way to the south pole
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America
Actually, no, you are talking about "The United States of...". It's standard. The rest of North America doesn't have America in the country's name. I know, it's tough to make that logical leap, but give it a whack, you'll feel better for the effort anyway. Then you can go back to coloring.
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Simply Hide Your Laptop
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Re: Re:
well, that's just completely wrong. Privacy is seen as very important in Europe. In no way your privacy is more at risk in Europe than in the US. Especially since 9/11. The US demands long records of passengers on airplanes to the US (this has been rejected by the EU parliament) and that is just an example.
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Red States
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Re: RE homeland security
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RE: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
Um, yeah he does. He hand picked cronies and tipped the balance of power to tyrrany.
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Yikes!!
1. First of all, G. Bush is not capable of passing Supreme Court Law(This goes for the Red States too)! Yikes, let's return to 3rd grade and study the 3 branches of Government shall we?
2. As for proposing members for the Supreme Court, yes, Bush did do that. 2 out of 7 panel members!! The others were brought in by previous presidents. So, um, where is the logic here??
Bottom line is, it is our governments obligation to those who are living within the confines of the US borders to ensure that they are doing their very best to protect us from terrorist attacks. This is a very real threat folks or do you forget 9/11? Forget the argument of some of those were American citizens because it doesn't fly in my book. Let's take a look at the rally that just took place in Florida, where our own American citizens pledged their allegiance to Al Qaida. Sometimes the enemy doesn't come from without, but from within.
I know it really seems to suck that we are losing some of our freedoms, but when it comes to border crossings, is that really a freedom you want to give to someone who may have terrorist blueprints on his hard drive? It isn't just for pedophiles that this law is being held firm. Is it going to catch them all? Surely not! Let me ask you though, if he/she did get through with that material on his/her laptop, who are YOU going to blame when they get into the US and wreak havoc on YOUR city, YOUR neighborhood, YOUR family? Hmmm, me thinks it will be the very same prez who you now think is being far to liberal with your personal privacy.
If you think this is such a terrible injustice, voice your opinion on something more than just an internet blog. Use your voice for something more than just whining in a semi public, anonymous forum! Actually do some research on what you are so "anti" and then act on it. Geez, I get so irritated with stuff like this! Everyone has an opinion...sorta like assholes, but then no one wants to actually do anything, they just sit around and let that same government they distrust SO much make all the decisions. Puleeze! Educate yourself and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
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Re:Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
Second, "The Ninth Circuit is the most Democratic Circuit Court in the nation. 67% (16 out of 24) of its active judges were appointed by a Democratic President."
src:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Circuit_Court_of_Appeals
Third, how is this any different then the border patrol digging through your briefcase, viewing all your paper records; making you unlock your suitcase so they can have access inside, etc?
Finally, what is the likelyhood that a border patrol officer wants to go through your computer blindly and search thousands of folders, files, etc for incriminating evidence. My guess is that unless you give them a good reason to, they won't be bothered.
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You won't have to unencript the data for a border crossing guard, just don't expect to have them let you back into the country.
All the other bullshit about rights and freedom is all just a bunch of tinfoil hat wearing idiots spouting off a bunch of crap.
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Ignorance is bliss
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Re:
and dont forget the people who forget that the american continent extends all the way to the south pole
Agreed. I'm a US citizen and I wince every time I hear people refer to this country as "America."
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Re: RE: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
The court that made this ruling is the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Not the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, the Supreme court case that the ruling is based on, was a case from 1985. Last time I checked, Bush wasn't President in 1985 and had not picked anyone for the supreme court at that time.
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Re: Here's a thought
It is this gullible groupthinking mentaility that will be the demise of freedom in so-called 'free' nations. What you fail to realize is that while YOU may not care about privacy and independance, many other people do. Just because you crave the attention that security personal gives you by rifling through your personal property without your permission...doesn't mean other people do. Yes, some people do 'hide' things. Hiding things isn't an indication of wrongdoing...it's an indication of someone wanting to maintain their privacy. Perhaps they have some risque photos of their wife. Nothing 'wrong' with that...but certainly a private matter. Perhaps they are carrying proprietary trade secrets for their company...nothing 'wrong' with that...but certainly a private matter.
What really irks me is that you have the audacity to say that someone's private information should be kept somewhere more 'appropriate.' What could possibly be more appropriate than your own property!? My laptop is MINE. No one elses. No one has the right to search through my private data...ever. If you fail to see how it is INAPPROPRIATE for the state to perform warantless searches without probable cause, then you have failed and your mentaility will fail us all.
Thanks for being one of the mindless drones that actually believes what the government does is in our best interest. Moron.
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Interesting...
I don't quite understand this border business. Is this procedure just for non-US citizens or anyone coming acrosss the border?
If it includes US citizens, who cares? What could possibly be so important on a laptop? If I have something THAT important to transport over the border, I would just FTP the data to a server and never even consider someone trying to get it off a laptop.
Is it porn they're after? If so, I'm sure the pronographers have a more sound way to secure they're product.
If it's that important, upload it or burn it then stash it...end of story.
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Re:
You won't have to unencript the data for a border crossing guard, just don't expect to have them let you back into the country.
All the other bullshit about rights and freedom is all just a bunch of tinfoil hat wearing idiots spouting off a bunch of crap.
US Govt: *groans* "Who's yer daddy?" *smack*
You: "You, you're my daddy!"
US Govt: *smack* "What? I can't hear you???"
You: "You're my daddy! You're my daddy!"
There's a reason why the US government has strict laws on allowing certain encryption methods to travel outside of the country. If top mathematicians and cryptologists consider a method secure, and companies like RSA can offer up to $200,000 USD to simply crack a single code... The US govt doesn't have a leg to stand on.
Why do you think they tried to force encryption companies to allow backdoor methods to their algos? It's because many are so hardened, they would take millions of years even in large-scaled cluster farms to crack.
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you know.....
Note to U Guessed IT: Did we forget that daddy Bush was one of those previous presidents? You your self rant of people needing to educate them selves......but all you do in your post is perpetuate the fear mongering.
The fact is that if people want to be perfectly safe, they will have to give up all their rights. So it comes down to this.......do you want to live your life? Or have your government live it for you because there is an off chance that some nut job is going to kill you?
Guess what guys? Terrorists aren't the only people who take lives. Millions of people die every single day. They die naturaly. They die to stupidity, accidents, murder, sickness, and natural disasters. Death is everywhere. Living in fear is no way to live.
The only people who want to be protected by the government are the sheep who are so affraid of dying that they CAN'T live their lives. These people come from all walks of life. They could have six figure incomes, beautiful families and many possesions. Or they could live in a trailer, work at a popular fast food chain, and drink domestic beer infront of a 20" TV every night.
The above post is right about one thing...PLEASE educate your selves. But don't do it by listening to every crack pot that rants on television or on a blog. We live in the age of digital information. It's all here.....you just need to look it up and read it for your self. Don't just read other peoples comments on it. All that does is continue the spread of missinformation.
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Re: Re:Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Co
Digging through a briefcase or suitcase is far more reasonable. You can't store drugs on your hard drive.
"Finally, what is the likelyhood that a border patrol officer wants to go through your computer blindly and search thousands of folders, files, etc for incriminating evidence. My guess is that unless you give them a good reason to, they won't be bothered."
Good point. I go fishing in Canada every summer. If they ask to see something, even if it would be incredibly inconvenient for you to get at, you say "Sure thing," and get started. When they see that you have nothing to hide, they generally don't bother to look. If you hand over your laptop, they're not going to do an exhaustive search. If you make them get a search warrant, and waste their time, they'll waste your time with the most invasive search they can justify, just to get even.
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Re: Re: Re:
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Re: Yikes!!
2. Same thing as before... although the supreme court does not take orders from anyone, they were put in their positions by political appointment based on demonstrated ideology. The majority of these justices were put in office by conservative politicians.
3. What actions would you suggest for people who feel marginalized, isolated, and powerless? How about people that do organize, but are essentially invisible because corporate media refuses to cover them? It's not that people aren't trying to "DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT", it's that the channels to do so are very narrow.
Also, the agencies that are responsible for national security surveillance have a proven track record of spying on American citizens and infiltrating peaceful organizations. They haven't proven themselves to be trustworthy in the first place. I think it is really
And one last thing, try not to think in absolutes as if there are only two ways about any issue. The world is a bit more complex than you try to make it. It's a nice bubble to live in, for sure, but if your ultimate goal is truth, you may have to observe a bit more closely.
Be cynical, skeptical... but don't forget to be smart.
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Anyone for Bush is a FUCKING MORON!
You have nothing to say and your reasoning is skewed. Not that you don't believe in what you think but your method of thought is flawed. It is clear in all the world around us from New Orleans, to New York, to Baghdad that Bush and his cabinet are completely and totally incompetent.
Anything else is total and complete nonsense either generated by aformentioned powers or perpetuated by their subjects who are even more thoughtless than them.
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Re: Re:
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Re: Re: Re: RE: homeland security
, From the DHS.gov Human resources page-
"The vast majority of DHS civilian employees (approximately 110,000)"
Wake up dufus.
How many of them really work for other government agencies, and are just called "DHS" employees as a technicality?
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Re: Re: Re: Applying to the airports?
Yes to both.
I HAVE travelled all over Asia, WITH my laptop and what I get is a much more pleasant experience than the people hired under "affirmative action" who say "this passport is not computer readable" and detain you for four hours without question.
Never had a problem in the US. Asian airports get fussy, questioning who I really am, making aggressive luggage inspections.
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Re: Re: Here's a thought
If people are dumb enough to make videos like that in the first place, then they deserve to be inspected at length.
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Re: Re: Re:
Really, like the way European countries keep nationalized health records, can search through it at will, and you have no control over which doctor you see? Or German police who can enter your house without a warrant if they don't like the shape of the antenna on your roof? Privacy is a foreign concept in the Latin cultures of France or Italy, where people think nothing of having sex with the door open in public hotels, the architecture is designed to allow people see each other's houses, and when Americans raise a fuss about privacy, they are accused of being the "arrogant American".
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Privacy Politics
There are probably a few politicians, on both sides, that care about privacy, however they don't speak up and make their voices heard. I guess it's bad taste to interfere with an ally's agenda. It seems at times that the only reason we still have any privacy is that both sides tend to try and shoot down the other side at every possible opportunity.
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sigh
If this happens to me I’ll stay there as long as it takes but there is no way the OS is booting past the login screen.
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Re: Re: HIPAA vs. Border Security hmmmm..
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Government...Woot?
Hide the battery someplace where the border people would never look. Then they cant turn the laptop on and you can say you lost the battery across the border
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A Great Man Once Said...
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Re: sigh
Really? So do you know for a fact that the Border Patrol hires high school dropouts? I haven't heard of any government agencies today that hire such people. Are you sure they still have affirmative action, or is it illegal now?
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Re: Red States
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Re: Re: Re: Here's a thought
If people are dumb enough to make videos like that in the first place, then they deserve to be inspected at length."
well...as a legal adult in the usa, i have the right to make personal home movies. if my consenting partner and i want to make a video of us 'doin it' we can. it's for our personal use. not for some border patrolman to watch it. i'm not dumb for making it either.
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A word on encryption
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Food for thought
There is no expectation of privacy at customs. You are not dumb if you make a porno or buy adult novelty products. You are dumb if you take it with you on your trip expecting it to be private. Customs aside, what if your laptop got stolen and your hot home video got posted on the Internet or was sold as amateur porn? Remember "European Vacation"?
We can argue both sides of the issue about how evil the Democrats or Republicans are and how one particular side or President is screwing us over. The sad fact of the matter is that our government has been in a downward spiral since after the Great Depression and World War II. Our "greatest" generation failed us by not ensuring the government stayed out of our affairs and allowing it to swell to unimaginable heights of corruption. The "we deserve" mentality has permeated our government, truly creating a big brother that most Americans cannot or refuse to live without, like Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.
Eisenhower warned us of the danger of the Military Industrial complex, but nobody listened. We've been too afraid of communists during the Red Scare, the Soviets during the Cold War, drugs during the 80's and 90's and terrorism (domestic and foreign) during the 90's and 00's, to truly see that all these 'wars' we're 'fighting' should never have superceded our Constitutional rights. Yet, we've done nothing because the same jackasses in Congress that vote for Real ID and the Patriot Act, are also redistributing our (over) taxed money into social programs and local projects into our districts. Hell, what's the harm in a little loss of freedom as long as Rep so-and-so gets us $150million to build a bridge that only a dozen people with use or pay for my golden years because I was too busy trying to impress my neighbors with expensive crap than saving some money?
Corporations aren't to blame, however convenient it may be. We are... for electing and re-electing the same corrupt politicians, regardless of their party, over and over again. We -allow- them to succumb to lobbyists and PACs, whether they be unions, corporations, or hippies with lots of money, by reinforcing their behavior with our votes. We fund the lobbyists agendas by consuming their goods or donating money to them.
Affecting change in government is as simple as changing your voting habits. Don't vote for someone just because their your favored political party, unless you have to because you live in a state that makes you register an affiliation, as both parties are pretty much the same anymore. Simply vote against the encumbant, don't let them stay in there long enough to be seduced by the lobbyists. You can even affect change by being choosy about where you spend your money. Don't like 'corporate greed'? Buy products from companies that aren't run by a-holes. Buy from mom and pop stores. Or do you not practice what you preach so you can save some $$$ at the Wal-Mart?
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Re: Remove Important Data
Like the Christopher Walken way in Pulp Fiction?
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Re: Re: Re: Re:
yes, and the French cultures of China
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Re: Hmmm...
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Re: You are all idiots
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You're not "in the USA" at the border
I think the movie "The Terminal" makes a great demonstration on this as it shows you are not IN the USA until the Border Patrol or Customs says you are. This is international law designed to allow nations to kick you out and say they never allowed you in in the first place. This is old law folks.
It's liberals that make up passages in the Constitution that do not exist in the first place. "Gay rights", "Abortion", "Separation of Church and State" etc. Liberals might want to actually read the Constitution before they go screaming to a lawyer or "moveon.org". Geez, give it up with the "blame it on Bush" thing for once. Much of the problems we have today are a result of poor Liberal policy from the past (Congress was mostly Democrats for nearly half a century) that have come back to bite us in the butt and now, as usual, the conservatives have to clean up the mess (middle east, economy, terrorism, etc)
What a bunch of weaners.
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Re: You're not "in the USA" at the border
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They could always search anything and everything when you cross an international border. It's a right of soveriegnty that every nation exercises. Yes, every nation can and does this when it suits their need. To prevent problems they just don't do it to everyone, but only samples.
International airports are considered border crossings so to those that were wondering they can search there too.
This article was written by a misinformed alarmist trying to stir up conspiracy theorists. Read the history on this and become educated before you make rash judgements that show nothing more than your political affiliation.
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Really, like the way European countries keep nationalized health records, can search through it at will, and you have no control over which doctor you see? Or German police who can enter your house without a warrant if they don't like the shape of the antenna on your roof? Privacy is a foreign concept in the Latin cultures of France or Italy, where people think nothing of having sex with the door open in public hotels, the architecture is designed to allow people see each other's houses, and when Americans raise a fuss about privacy, they are accused of being the "arrogant American".
Every statement you have made in the above is wrong. The German law does not allow to search your house without a warrent. It's nonsense that you can't pick your own dokter, I have done so several times. I can even choose the hospital for treatment. Also, there are NO centralized National Health databases, actually the problem is that there is none. My family docter has a file, the hospitals I visited, each have one with only the information about the treatment I got at that time and the data that I gave them.
Culture and architecture, in teh way you describe, have nothing to do with laws on privacy. Also, you should note that France and Italy do not represent all off European culture. Before you get angry, check your facts.
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Thats all I have to say.
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Hard drives
I use a SLAX LIVE CD, i don't need a hard drive in my laptop.
I just ftp to my server stateside and access my stuff that way.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
A laptop without a hard drive is useless to them.
What will stump them even more is seeing a fully operational OS on a CD.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Keep the laptop jerks i still got my software on my server that i access remotely.
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Tourism
I guess thats what it boils down to they have no reason to look there, some may mention child porn, but the people looking at the laptop is the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security does not investigate child porn.
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Re: Uh, Bush doesn't control the Supreme Court
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