News: ACLU Seeks Info on Border Laptop Searches

The Jurist reports that the ACLU is filing a lawsuit to acquire documents on US Customs and Borders policy of searching traveller's laptops. They claim these searches may violate fourth amendment protection against 'unreasonable search and seizure' - searches are conducted on the basis of 'unindividualized suspicion'

In April of last year, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Ruled that reasonable suspicion is not necessary for a warrantless search of a laptop or other digital device at the border due to inherent national security interests. The court rejected the argument that a laptop is like a human mind because of its ability to record ideas and emails, and held instead that a laptop is the same as closed containers such as purses and wallets.