4 ms·

And you still call your country a democracy! If this doesn't change, I will never consider to move or even go on vacation to the USA, I might live in a state t

And you still call your country a democracy! If this doesn't change, I will never consider to move or even go on vacation to the USA, I might live in a state that has a lot of problems (Italy), but at least I have the right of privacy, and I can take a plane without having agents searching through my sensitive information on my devices.

danesparza 9y ago
It's not (nor has it ever been) a democracy. It's a Federal Republic. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
- welterde 9y ago
  Democracy and federal republic are not mutually exclusive (in modern usage anyway). Far from it - being a federal republic is just one of many variants of democracies. The USA - like other countries, such as Germany or Mexico - are both a (representative) democracy and a federal republic.
soundwave106 9y ago
Careful about this. This is one of those policies I can easily see changing at least for US citizens. (Hopefully they adjust the policy for everyone, but I'm less optimistic on this front). The Supreme Court, in Riley vs. California (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_v._California https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_v._California), unanimously held that warrantless searching of a cell phone is unconstitutional (violation of the 4th amendment). The ACLU and EFF have filed a case largely on this basis. (https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/alasaad-v-duke-complaint https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/alasaad-v-duke-complaint) My armchair thoughts on this is that it looks like their case is very strong, and the likelihood of this policy being struck down at least for US citizens is pretty high. Wouldn't mind a lawyer opinion, but at first glance I don't see a huge difference between the circumstances of Riley vs. California, and the cases represented here. There are unfortunately people in this nation (as everywhere else) who are authoritarian oriented in nature, but there are also many in this country who push back. For US citizens, the best way to react to this is less Internet outrage, but ensure that one supports the ACLU and EFF, two organizations that have been critical in pushing back against the erosion of the 4th Amendment.

danesparza 9y ago

It's not (nor has it ever been) a democracy. It's a Federal Republic. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

welterde 9y ago
Democracy and federal republic are not mutually exclusive (in modern usage anyway). Far from it - being a federal republic is just one of many variants of democracies. The USA - like other countries, such as Germany or Mexico - are both a (representative) democracy and a federal republic.

soundwave106 9y ago

Careful about this. This is one of those policies I can easily see changing at least for US citizens. (Hopefully they adjust the policy for everyone, but I'm less optimistic on this front). The Supreme Court, in Riley vs. California (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_v._California https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_v._California), unanimously held that warrantless searching of a cell phone is unconstitutional (violation of the 4th amendment). The ACLU and EFF have filed a case largely on this basis. (https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/alasaad-v-duke-complaint https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/alasaad-v-duke-complaint) My armchair thoughts on this is that it looks like their case is very strong, and the likelihood of this policy being struck down at least for US citizens is pretty high. Wouldn't mind a lawyer opinion, but at first glance I don't see a huge difference between the circumstances of Riley vs. California, and the cases represented here. There are unfortunately people in this nation (as everywhere else) who are authoritarian oriented in nature, but there are also many in this country who push back. For US citizens, the best way to react to this is less Internet outrage, but ensure that one supports the ACLU and EFF, two organizations that have been critical in pushing back against the erosion of the 4th Amendment.