www.CostaRicaTicas.com

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080801/tc_ ... ptops_dc_1


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold then for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

Agents are empowered to share the contents of seized computers with other agencies and private entities for data decryption and other reasons, the newspaper said.

DHS officials said the policies applied to anyone entering the country, including U.S. citizens, and were needed to prevent terrorism.

The measures have long been in place but were only disclosed in July, under pressure from civil liberties and business travel groups acting on reports that increasing numbers of international travelers had had their laptops, cellphones and other digital devices removed and examined.

The policies cover hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes -- as well as books, pamphlets and other written materials, the report said.

The policies require federal agents to take measures to protect business information and attorney-client privileged material. They stipulate that any copies of the data must be destroyed when a review is completed and no probable cause exists to keep the information.

Very annoying, and completely overused, but not technically new.

They've been doing this for a long time, and the only thing that has changed recently is the civil rights groups pressure to talk about it. But they've been able to do this for a long time, and have been doing so.

If you have mission-critical files on your laptop that are essential for your business or personal irreplaceable information such as family photos, you would be well advised to email them home and delete just them from your computer. If you have pictures of girls, you may be hassled over their perceived age, even if they were of legal age. This is the problem with laws like this. If you have inappropriate pictures you should be shot in the head, but it's the rest of us who are going to be constantly hassled for nothing illegal or wrong. We will be the ones that they seize information from, not the creepy guy or the terrorist. It's typical government intrusion and don't expect it to stop any time soon. As long as no one does anything about it they will continue to intrude wherever they see fit.

There is a terrorist hiding under every bed. What a crock for them to use terrorism to justify this orwellian tactic. Just read 1984 again and can see it coming true everywhere I look.
"We have to take away your freedom to keep you free."
" We started a war to prevent one." Insane.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

I am tempted to post my sincere emotions and attitude, but out or fear...I simply post "What ever is good for America is good for Americans" Stop your bitching you voted for him. Perhaps this November we can rid ourselves of this pest and his associated disease upon our freedoms.

Give me my country back, please Mr. President.

Thank you like minded patriots with the right to vote for their freedom. Enough of this administration that has burned, pillaged, and raped our jobs, economy, and freedom.

Go Phuck yourself mr Bush... in the ass.

And if you vote for Mc Bush you can go fuch your ownself too

I voted for Hillary and Bill, next republican in office and this country will be bankrupt.

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"You can only keep a secret between two people if the other one is dead." Ben Franklin

We are so over extented in cash trying to help everyone but the taxpayer.

Our bright young Dudes are being mamed, and we better do something soon.

I hoping for the Obama answer this year!! Maybe he can get some shit done.

Cound at least Irag pay for us like a good whore. We want taxi fare too.

Dutch

I might be wrong, but I heard somewhere that Microsoft had some pressure from NSA to build a quick download flash memory device for them, and other police agencies. From what I understand, Microsoft has created a USB ported device which simply plugs into any computer and downloads all image, document, and video files. This is all done without any need for passcodes, by the way.

Of course, this device is a complete violation of the 4th Amendment protection against unreasonable searches, but as you are all aware, everything can be used against you in court, or in front of a grand jury, so they can later nail you for perjury. We live in a police state these days.

"I used to email people, but after Newt Gingrich tried to subpoena every email ever sent in the Whitehouse, I went back to using telephones."

-Bill Clinton

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-PA*

A couple things disturb me about the two reports.

One is that the devices/data may be "...shared with (outside companies) for decryption or (other purposes). The "Other purpose" isn't defined.

Secondly, I carry nothing incriminating on my laptop, but it's my lifeline to a variety of information which I cannot perceive with my eyes. Flight itineraries, my address book, credit card emergency numbers all travel on my talking laptop. Confiscating my laptop, digital voice recorder and cellular from me would be like confiscating an amputee's prothesis or a paraplegic's wheelchair.
The software to make this one laptop talk (single PC license) costs $1000.00. Aside from the temporary loss of data, the loss of my laptop means the immediate and essential expenditure of at minimum $1500.00 in order for me to read the daily news and retrieve addresses. Not carrying my laptop to CR is not an option for the same reasons I'll need the computer after returning home.

Yet another reason I have misgivings about my upcoming trip.

I agree with Heywood and others here, but I will save my political ranting for a different forum.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

You can buy a laptop at bestbuy for 350-400, every year I buy a new travel laptop and sell the old one for 150 bucks. I have a business laptop which is 1g which stays in the US at all times, then I have my travel laptop which is for skype, music, websurfing it cost me 350 at bestbuy and is insured for being stolen or whatever by AMEX. I dont have anything that would get me in trouble on my laptop but if they siezed it so what big deal, I call AMEX and get a new one.

While this may be true, it's not the basic type of laptop that El Ciego would need. And regardless, no matter how inexpensive the prices are now for new ones - having your personalized laptop siezed would be a major pain-in-the-ass!

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

It's not the computer, it's the $995.00 software, the hours of set-up, having to hire a computer geek to install programs I need but which are not accessible without some work by a sighted guy, etc.

Furthermore, if they snag my cellular, this means that I will have no means by which to contact my driver when I hit MSP or for other emergencies.

I'm appalled at the dependence on technology that I've developed. But that's the way it is in 2008.

Yeah, I sure fit the profile of a terrorist. That's me, rabidly anti-American, fundamentalist and extremist in my religious beliefs, have access to explosives, and can see well engouh to use them. Common sense is truly uncommon.

I just hope I again duck the radar.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

EC and MG, I agree I see your point....thats just what I do for myself when I travel, just a suggestion as it works for me and stress levels rather well.
Low stress option for me.. I hope it can work for others as an option thats it.

El Ciego, now that you have shaved the beard, got your hair cut shorter, stopped wearing the turban, white gown and sandals I think you may be okay.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Let em have mine but they gonna fukin pay me top dollar. Data loss not too worried. After my laptop almost got stolen on a U.S. flight last year decided to keep the data stick separate and always back it up at home.

On a positive note just heard yest. that you will no longer have to remove the laptop from the case to speed up the screening. It only has to be one of the TSA approved which are quite common. Works for me.

Sure This is the US government you only get top dollar if you are contributing, heavily, to your Senator/Congressman campaign fund.

Be the average Joe lunch bucket or Harold suit and tie guy and you get shit.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine