The land of the free?

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Continue to say goodbye to your freedoms one at a time, suckers!

Homeland Security: Court Rules Customs Agents Can Collect Data From Laptops & Cellphones Without Cause

Sorry, but I don't think giving the government unfettered access to every detail of my life actaully protects us from terrorists often enough to be warranted. And this is just one more in a long line of tactics to erase the notion of privacy completely.

What do you think?

[fwellers]

Orwell was probably about 30-40 years off the mark.

[escapee]

It's obvious that war and liberty do not coexist really well, when you have politicians lying their way to wage unjust war on sovereign nation. To contain the "blowback" of their blunder, they would have to erode your liberty and intrude your privacy. I think stuff like this is inevitable unless there is a major change in the direction of foreign policy as proposed by Ron Paul.

We have always heard of an ideal society is the one with Peace, prosperity and freedom. . I believe there go hand in hand.

[Tasaio]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Continue to say goodbye to your freedoms one at a time, suckers!

Homeland Security: Court Rules Customs Agents Can Collect Data From Laptops & Cellphones Without Cause

Sorry, but I don't think giving the government unfettered access to every detail of my life actaully protects us from terrorists often enough to be warranted. And this is just one more in a long line of tactics to erase the notion of privacy completely.

What do you think?

In my opinion this ruling is so outrageous that it is...unpractical. Unworkable.

As the article notes, it is completely unrealistic for them for view (and store!) private data from company employees.

Or to search J.K. Rowling's laptop and store a copy of her next top-secret Harry Potter book. (That goes for all authors--our work is PRIVATE until ready for release.)

Or to search Steven Spielburg's laptop, which has the final cut of his new top secret to-be-released movie on it.

Or to search a gov't employee's laptop, which has vital, top secret security info. You're telling me some Muslim guy working at the airport can view the data?

I wouldn't worry about this, yet. They stopped the homeschooling ban in California, I'm sure someone will point out the flaws in this policy, too.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Yes, it's ridiculous because the ruling makes no plans on how to securely store what data it does retrieve. Think of the repercussions!

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Continue to say goodbye to your freedoms one at a time, suckers!

Homeland Security: Court Rules Customs Agents Can Collect Data From Laptops & Cellphones Without Cause

Sorry, but I don't think giving the government unfettered access to every detail of my life actaully protects us from terrorists often enough to be warranted. And this is just one more in a long line of tactics to erase the notion of privacy completely.

What do you think?

Does this only apply to US citizens? Maybe I should denounce my citizenship... They wouldn't let me in the country a week ago when I arrived here anyhow...They can't apply this to non-US citizens, right?

Oh, wait, if I denounce my citizenship now I won't be able to vote for Obama . My first time ever voting in the US (my 3rd time voting in my whole life).

[Brutha]

Does this only apply to US citizens? Maybe I should denounce my citizenship... They wouldn't let me in the country a week ago when I arrived here anyhow...They can't apply this to non-US citizens, right?

They can, especially if you want to pass the US border.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

They can't apply this to non-US citizens, right?

Oh, yeah, probably especially non-citizens. They'll just say, "if you don't like it, don't come to our country." Problem solved .

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Oh, yeah, probably especially non-citizens. They'll just say, "if you don't like it, don't come to our country." Problem solved .

If that's what it takes...it works for me. What if I don't want to pass the US border? What if I never come here?

They wouldn't let me in the US this time when I arrived, because I (evidently too honestly) claimed two citizenships on the immigration card, and one of them was American. It's the second time I've had trouble entering this country, even though I'm an American citizen. Now I know, doesn't matter how many you have, they don't want you to claim more than one citizenship.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Bitsy

If that's what it takes...it works for me. What if I don't want to pass the US border? What if I never come here?

Hmmm. I'm not sure I know what you mean by that.

Originally Posted by Bitsy

They wouldn't let me in the US this time when I arrived, because I (evidently too honestly) claimed two citizenships on the immigration card, and one of them was American. It's the second time I've had trouble entering this country, even though I'm an American citizen. Now I know, doesn't matter how many you have, they don't want you to claim more than one citizenship.

Wow, I didn't know that. What a ridiculous thing.

[Trezker]

Don't worry about getting across the border. Worry about when they implement surveillance over all of your private communication.

[Akashic_Librarian]

I'm not paranoid...I KNOW they are watching me!! MUHAHAHA

Britain is going that way...Apparently we have a lot of CCTV cameras, apparently they don't work...BUT THEY ARE STILL THERE...they are watching us maaaaan....they are in our miiiiiinddssss....WWHHOOOOOAAAA!

[Dave Kaminski]

I'm leaving the US, not entering (headed to Canada). Can they check my laptop as well?

Thanks!!

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

I'm leaving the US, not entering (headed to Canada). Can they check my laptop as well?

Thanks!!

I would assume it's only for people entering, but I'll have to look into that. Good question.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Trezker

Don't worry about getting across the border. Worry about when they implement surveillance over all of your private communication.

I'm pretty sure they already do that to a great extent and have provided themselves with the power to do it whenever they want.

Everything you search online, your phone calls, etc.

I read of a case where UPS refused to deliver a package to a woman because it was coming in from Mexico and had documents in it. She had ordered birth certificates for some family members I believe. She had been in the country for 15 years and was legal (green card). They told her she had to show green card to get the package. Not sure if they would do a similar thing to a full citizen.

Florida woman's fight with UPS touches nerve over security level