Under legislation any passenger entering the US and carrying a laptop can be stopped and have their laptop confiscated. This information comes from the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) after members reported the loss of their personal computers.
A survey conducted by ACTE revealed that government agents are seizing and searching passenger laptops, computer discs and other electronic media as passengers enter the US. The law applies to all passengers entering the United States.
An ACTE spokesperson revealed that the measure is dangerous for business travellers working on sensitive and competitive proposals. ACTE executive director Susan Gurley commented: ”The common belief is that there is a right to the privacy of one”s computer. Yet it appears there is none. The information that US government officials have the right to examine, download, or even seize business travellers” laptops came as a surprise to the majority of our members.”
The spokesperson confirmed that those passengers reporting the situation to ACTE had not had their laptops returned up to six months after the incident and had been unable to find anything out about where their computer had gone and what had been done with the sensitive business information. ACTE is issuing this warning to business travellers so they are aware of the situation, until a solution is found.
”ACTE continues to ask for clarification from the US government regarding what steps, if any, are being taken to protect confidential business, privileged legal and personal information,” said Gurley.