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Even to the extent that this is currently the norm, why is it OK? Why should state officials ever be allowed to interrogate U.S. citizens' political opinions,
by Niten 16y ago
Even to the extent that this is currently the norm, why is it OK?
Why should state officials ever be allowed to interrogate U.S. citizens' political opinions, regardless of whether those citizens happen to be standing in an airport?
It makes perfect sense that Customs be allowed to inspect physical items passengers bring through the airport, but what rationale says they should look through your computer files, especially in a post-Internet world? (I.e., there's no sense in claiming that you'll stop child pornography or other hot-topic illegal data entering the U.S. in an age where the Internet exists.)
- pvg 16y agoWhy is what OK? For law-enforcement personnel to ask you questions? Or search you? Both of these are established and legal and common. Saying they shouldn't be able to search your laptop because of the Internet is like suggesting police shouldn't check suspects in violent crimes for knives because of the availability of guns. Instead of making more vague regulations about what you can and can't be asked at the border, there is a very simple remedy for government agents asking you questions you don't want to answer - simply not answering. That's a legal right Jacob Appelbaum had no trouble taking advantage of.