[Air-L] ACLU reports US Customs searches 1500+ digital devices at border in nine months]

[George Lessard]

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RT @mediamentor: RT @michaelgeist: RT @eMichaelPower: ACLU reports US
Customs searches 1500+ digital devices at border in nine months:

http://ow.ly/XU7F

[excerpt]

The ACLU's analysis of the first batch of documents released by CBP reveals:

• In a span of just nine months, CBP officials searched over 1,500
electronic devices belonging to travelers. Under the current policy, they
were not required to justify a single one of these searches.

• Travelers' laptops are not the only devices at risk of being examined,
detained, or seized by the government. In fact, cell phones were the most
commonly searched and seized devices between October 2008 and June 2009.

• Other types of devices that were searched and detained during this time
period include digital cameras, thumb drives, hard drives, and even DVDs.

• Between July 2008 and June 2009, CBP transferred electronic files found
on travelers' devices to third-party agencies almost 300 times. Over half
the time, these unknown agencies asserted independent bases for retaining
or seizing the transferred files. More than 80 percent of the transfers
involved the CBP making copies of travelers' files.