k wrote:

My laptop is infinitely more sensitive and private than my underwear and shit in my bag. There is a zero percent chance I'm letting some fucking guy go through it without a warrant.
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You carry shit in your bag? No wonder they want to take your laptop away from you. :P

k wrote:

Udy, a British citizen, said the agent told her he had "a security concern" with her. "I was basically given the option of handing over my laptop or not getting on that flight," she said.

Oh my god, FUCK that. No more international flights with computers folks. Unless you want your shit gone through. My laptop is infinitely more sensitive and private than my underwear and shit in my bag. There is a zero percent chance I'm letting some fucking guy go through it without a warrant.

If this becomes a common practice for domestic flights, commerce will grind to a halt. Beyond that though, I just won't travel anymore. What complete horseshit.

I guess I'm surprised by your surprise. This matter has been discussed on MemeStreams several times in the past, including by you...

I posted the WaPo article BoingBoing is referencing here.

There are at least ten other references to this practice.

As the first reference is from 2005, one suspects this was a result of the resounding Republican victory in the 2004 Presidential and Congressional elections. Glad those Republicans are there to defend my freedom from encroachment by the state... Oh wait, except totally the opposite. What a bunch of fucking hypocrits.