What the h**l is WRONG with CUSTOMS!!!! (10pts)?

Question

So I started by asking a question and didnt get any good answers, I then googled and found this:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/customs-now-performing-laptop-strip-searches-protect-yourself

Amongst other search results claiming the same thing.

"Under the current search policy, Customs officers do not have to adhere to any restrictions; laptops can be searched, confiscated for an undetermined amount of time, and they can even make copies of travelers’ files. Nothing is sacred; not financial data, business data, or even attorney-client privileged information."

WTF is that?!? Just a few years ago I had maybe a dozen bootleg dvds I bought and took it with me on my flight and had no problems.

Now all this c**p? Crazyness. I understand they want to protect

against child pron and such but this is ridiculous.

So anyway down to the point. Unless we want to risk our flights by encrypting our personal data. Theres basically no way to carry any

music, movies, or anything that we have without some type of

risk. Small as the risk may be it is still a risk to rip a dvd that you

own and put it on your ipod or even music for that matter.

OK ENOUGH RANTING HERES THE QUESTION:

I need to know how i can send my hard drives to another country.

I also need to know if it is against customs policy to search my

hard drive, laptop, pc, flash drives, ipod, etc when sending my

things over through the mail.

Answer 1

It's not Customs, I'm sure it's the Patriot Act. Just another way to infringe upon our rights.  They aren't looking for "p**n", they are looking for "terrorists".

Answer 2

Hard questions! Ship your hard drives by some other means. I ship stuff either by DHL or FEDEX depending on country and/or service levels. You will still have to bring the items through customs on the other end.

As to your second question, policy or against policy makes no difference. If DHS or customs want to inspect your hard drives, they will inspect your hard drives. The 'policy' is that if they think they need to do it, they will do it. That is the price we pay for not being watchful before 9/11.

Answer 3

I agree they have too much power andthey're usually jerks about it but........who cares if they look at what's on your computer. I take mine and other than it being a pain to wait I really couldn't care less.  Do you have something bad on there?