Les voyageurs d'affaires qui voyagent en dehors des Etats-Unis avec les ordinateurs portables et autres appareils électroniques numériques

Categorie: Blogue de l'Équipe Légale

Les voyageurs d'affaires qui voyagent en dehors des Etats-Unis avec les ordinateurs portables et autres appareils électroniques numériques courir le risque de les avoir saisi l'inspection lors de leur retour

Business travelers who travel outside of the United States with laptops and other digital electronic devices run the risk of having them seized for inspection upon their return.

In United States v Cotterman No.09-10139, Filed March 30, 2011, the Unites States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District held on a two to one split the seizure without reasonable cause by Federal Authority of a laptop computer at a border crossing and its subsequent retention for off site inspection, did not violate the unreasonable search and seizure component of the Fourth Amendment.

The computer was partially examined at the border entry but then sent to another installation when password protected files were found,. The laptop was the property of a registered sex offender who was ultimately charged and convicted of possessing child pornography in association with the search.

The Court built on the already established principle that border searches do not require reasonable cause and held that reasonable cause is not required for a seizure either even where this amounts to temporary deprivation of the device. This effectively extends the border search doctrine to off site inspections as well as those at the point of entry.

Those carrying legal but sensitive information in digital devices should consider whether they wish to risk having the data reviewed before leaving the United States with their laptop or other electronic device.

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