Crossing the border gets tougher

New U.S. security rules governing the inspection of electronic devices of travelers crossing the border are now the subject of a legal fight. A lawsuit filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Asian Law Caucus seeks a court order requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to disclose information on its policies for inspecting the contents of laptops and other electronic devices at every U.S. port of entry.

The lawsuit was prompted by what the two groups contend are a growing number of reports that travelers have been subjected to unwarranted searches. In most instances, the searches were conducted without apparent reason and with no details offered on what information might have been viewed or downloaded by customs officials, the suit alleged.

Susan Gurley, executive director of the Alexandria, Va.-based Association of Corporate Travel Executives, said that international travelers need to be aware of and prepared for such border searches. "This is by far not an epidemic of any sort," Gurley told ComputerWorld. "But we think people should know that they basically are leaving their right to privacy at the door when they cross the U.S. border." Here are some issues you should be aware of:

• Customs agents do not need any suspicion of illegal activity to examine your laptop or other electronic device such as a handheld computer.
• Every time you cross the border, customs officials have the right to look at everything on your person. They have the right to download information from your computer.
• Seized devices may be kept for an indefinite period. That means carry only devices you can afford to lose.
• Don't take any kind of file with you that you are not willing to share or lose.

Don't forget, this kind of policing is aimed at preventing further terrorist attacks, but plenty of people on the road home from a business trip are stopped too.

For more on what not to take over the border:
- See this ConputerWorld article