You belong to us: Our data (and gadgets) at risk
Finally we get an official position.
We already heard that DHS (US Department of Homeland Security) was seizing laptops and phones of US passengers. Now the DHS published the procedure (warning: PDF link), that permits them
to take your laptop (or any other "digital or analogic" device, capable to save data), make a copy of "all your data", keep them for "a reasonable amount of time", "share them with other agencies, subjects or party" in order to obtain assistance for "language translation, decryption or any other reasons".
[ "life and the pursuit of happiness", CC picture by shoothead ]
Some comments: Bruce Schneier, Slashdot, Washington Post.
How to deal with the laptop seizures: Lifehacker's, Electronic Frontier Foundation's and Bruce Schneier tips.
Be advised: you can even encrypt your data but the DHS-ignorant-cowboys-guys could ask you for password to decrypt them. According to EFF (see link above)
If you don't want to comply, CBP cannot force you to decrypt your data or give over your password. Only a judge can force you to answer questions, and then only if the Fifth Amendment does not apply. While no Fifth Amendment right protects the data on your laptop or phone, one federal court has held that even a judge cannot force you to divulge your password when the act of revealing the password shows that you are the person with access to or control over potentially incriminating files.
Did you see any analogies with Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother" fiction book? Well, they are.