k wrote:
As you implied, I don't trust that the application of laws in this arena is likely to fair or rational and the result is that i don't want to fly internationally, at least not with my computer.

Well, its worth noting that worse things can happen to you without a warrant at a U.S. Border stop, such as a body cavity search. This is the first case I've heard of where a computer was searched. However, I can imagine in the future that limited computer searches could be performed in a short period of time with the right proceedures, and that would lead to more of them.

Also, I'm concerned that it's only a matter of time before this authority expands and pretty soon the TSA monkeys are doing it for domestic flights too.

That can't happen without a Constitutional amendment. The only reason TSA is able to search things is to protect flight security. Hard drive contents obviously don't impact flight security.

p.s. a bit of grammar nazism, you meant to say "hear-hear!" or "hear! hear!".

For some reason when I wrote this I thought I recalled writing "hear hear" on this site and having grammar nazis tell me it's "here, here." Apparently I had mis-recalled the conversation.

RE: Police blotter: Laptop border searches OK'd | CNET News.com