
The next time you bring your laptop overseas, be prepared for the feds to take a look. The Department of Homeland Security has disclosed that federal agents now have the power to detain laptops and other electronic devices without any suspicion of wrongdoing. Data can then be shared across federal agencies.
The government says that these measures are needed for national security purposes. Many bloggers argue that this is an invasion of privacy and a hassle for travelers. Others complain that anything sent in the mail is off limits, meaning that the same electronics that can be held at airports and border checkpoints could be packaged and shipped without a second look.