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September 10, 2013

Documents in David House Case Reveal How U.S. Seizes Laptops at Airports to Avoid Need for Warrant 
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Newly revealed documents show how the United States is stopping people
at the border in order to search their electronics without a warrant or
proof of wrongdoing. The documents, released as part of a settlement
with the American Civil Liberties Union, relate to the case of David
House, a supporter of whistleblower Chelsea Manning –- formerly known
as Bradley Manning –- who had his electronics seized at a Chicago
airport when he returned from Mexico in 2010. It turns out U.S. agents
had been waiting months for House to leave the country so they could
conduct the search. House described what happened on Democracy Now! in
2011.

David House: "I was leaving the border search area. I was approached by
two individuals who identified themselves initially as Department of
Homeland Security agents. These two individuals told me I was compelled
to surrender all my belongings, including my electronic belongings, so
my computer, flash drive, cell phone, video camera."

It took 45 days for the government to return House's computer. They
later admitted he was innocent of any crime and vowed to destroy their
copies of his data.

 

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