[pp.int.general] Serious privacy breach -'legal' breach- at US Airports

[Carlos Ayala]

¿how long will it take for that system to be used at EU airports?

http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/02/07

EFF and Asian Law Caucus filed a sue against these procedures, today against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for
denying access to public records on the questioning and searches of
travelers at U.S. borders.

Actually in EU airports -I experienced it recently both in Schönefeld and Barajas- you are forced to put under the scanner scrutiny your belt, hand luggage, photo cameras, laptops, etc ... though at least in EU airports you are not forced to turn the laptop on. However, in USA actually you are, US Customs officers are legally allowed to force you to give them your passwords to allow them to check your laptop contents. And even they keep records of certain contents.

"In addition, customs agents examined travelers' books, business cards
collected from friends and colleagues, handwritten notes, personal
photos, laptop computer files, and cell phone directories, and
sometimes made copies of this information. When individuals complained,
they were told, "This is the border, and you have no rights.""

Ok then which is the message? "You are not welcomed anymore" instead of "Welcome to the USA"? I mean, maybe US Pirate Party some day in the future will invite us to have an international meeting in the USA ... will we be forced to surrender our intimacy and allow US Customs officers to check and even copy our laptop contents? Will happen the same if some day we become euro-MPs and have to make officlal trips to USA due to political agenda? If we have to we'll go anyway, but such measures are more and more far from what I would call a warm welcome.

The most dangerous thing for US citizens is that this is actually happening; the most dangerous thing for EU citizens is that -you know our lovely euro-MPs and European Comission representatives- such model would may be copied soon. We should be aware, as well as wishing luck to ALC and EFF in their judicial fight. Regards


                                                                                Carlos Ayala
                                                                                ( Aiarakoa )

                                                        Partido Pirata National Board's Chairman




       
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