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Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

theguardian.com

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Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#41

Post by sandworm101 »

eli wrote: post #32
ep103 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hidden partitions, and/or storing all your important data off-device are the two pieces of advice that get suggested the most.

Presumably whatever forensic tools they have will easily detect hidden partitions. The advice I hear for international travelers is disk encryption + FedEx'ing your laptop to its destination.

They dont use tools. For inspection of random phones from non-suspects they just poke around by hand. Only when they find something do they employ actual tools.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#42

Post by ch4s3 »

ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #5

I am TOTALLY ok with TSA reading my last text messages before I go on a flight. Those last few texts someone sends before committing a terrorist action, could send an extremely strong signal to authorities and possibly prevent a disaster. If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry.

The TSA's own research points out that their criteria for search doesn't work[1]. The whole thing is a sad farce that adds no real security.

[1]http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-aclu-tsa-20170207-stor...

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#43

Post by nickvanhoog »

gowld wrote: post #28
pjc50 wrote: post #19

> "One woman who shared her story with the ACLU told the Guardian that in the last year, she has twice had her electronics searched while flying within California. The 64-year-old, who works in nonprofits and requested anonymity for fear that she could face further scrutiny from TSA, said that on one occasion last year, TSA agents pulled her aside to pat her down multiple times and eventually asked to see both her iP…

It's also a classic tactic against conservative groups. https://www.npr.org/2017/10/27/560308997/irs-apologizes-for-...

I wouldn't say "classic" since you're referring to fairly recent events. If I had to guess, the OP was speaking about mid-20th century targeting of progressive groups by US law enforcement agencies (e.g. sending MLK fake hate mail whose intent, according to many, was to induce suicide).

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#44

Post by FireBeyond »

mikeash wrote: post #35

This article seems like it’s written to be deliberately confusing. If I understand it correctly, the TSA is not forcing anyone to unlock devices. They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them. However, the article drops border searches which do require an unlock right into the middle of the article, then goes on to say that they have no specifi…

> If I understand it correctly, the TSA is not forcing anyone to unlock devices.

I'm sure they also don't shrug their shoulders and say "Locked? Oh well.". Varying degrees of coercion, threat, implicit or otherwise, relying on passenger ignorance to their rights.

I wonder how many have unlocked it at their request too, which is specifically different from "forced".

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#45

Post by brokensegue »

justinjlynn wrote: post #31
brokensegue wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

freedom of movement \neq freedom to fly though

freedom to "use technology" is the freedom to "participate in society" which is the whole point. In the 80s it may have been permissible to ban those convicted of hacking crimes from computers and touch tone telephones, but today?

ask the supreme court

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#46

Post by justinjlynn »

brokensegue wrote: post #45
justinjlynn wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

freedom to "use technology" is the freedom to "participate in society" which is the whole point. In the 80s it may have been permissible to ban those convicted of hacking crimes from computers and touch tone telephones, but today?

ask the supreme court

I'm sure we will.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#47

Post by pentagonpapers »

justinjlynn wrote: post #24
iwalsh wrote: post #3

It's possible the TSA will claim that taking a device for some amount of time and giving it back doesn't qualify as a (4th amendment) search. However, from a security perspective it would be awful if they could disappear with your device whenever they wanted - that certainly makes me uncomfortable.

> taking a device for some amount of time and giving it back doesn't qualify as a (4th amendment) search If it's optional and I can and will refuse, fine. If it's not,and I'm not attempting to cross a border, they can get stuffed. For domestic travel, they do not need to examine the data - only the physical device needs to be examined to rule out security risk. They can do that non-intrusively with imaging and chemic…

...

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#49

Post by pentagonpapers »

pentagonpapers wrote: post #47
justinjlynn wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> taking a device for some amount of time and giving it back doesn't qualify as a (4th amendment) search If it's optional and I can and will refuse, fine. If it's not,and I'm not attempting to cross a border, they can get stuffed. For domestic travel, they do not need to examine the data - only the physical device needs to be examined to rule out security risk. They can do that non-intrusively with imaging and chemic…

...

deleting this comment as i will by flying a few weeks

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#50

Post by justinjlynn »

justinjlynn wrote: post #24
iwalsh wrote: post #3

It's possible the TSA will claim that taking a device for some amount of time and giving it back doesn't qualify as a (4th amendment) search. However, from a security perspective it would be awful if they could disappear with your device whenever they wanted - that certainly makes me uncomfortable.

> taking a device for some amount of time and giving it back doesn't qualify as a (4th amendment) search If it's optional and I can and will refuse, fine. If it's not,and I'm not attempting to cross a border, they can get stuffed. For domestic travel, they do not need to examine the data - only the physical device needs to be examined to rule out security risk. They can do that non-intrusively with imaging and chemic…

I should clarify: If them looking through my data is not optional and I can't refuse, and I'm not at a border crossing (which is still bullshit imo, but well trodden precedent), they'd better have goddamn signed warrant.
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