In a closely watched decision, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit confirmed the government’s expansive authority to search cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices at the border. On February 9, 2021, the...more
A new decision from the First Circuit upholding the federal government’s authority to search the electronic devices of anyone entering the United States — in some instances without a warrant, probable cause, or even...more
In recent years, the U.S. Department of Justice has brought an increasing number of cases aimed at combating economic espionage as part of its China Initiative. This effort has included cases against scientific researchers...more
In recent years, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought an increasing number of cases aimed at combating economic espionage as part of its China Initiative. This effort has included cases against scientific...more
Last week, in a historic decision on travelers’ rights to privacy at the U.S. border, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston ruled that suspicionless searches at U.S. ports of entry (airports and border crossings)...more
On January 4, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Directive 3340-049A, governing border searches of electronic devices. CBP’s new directive updates and provides several improvements over the agency’s initial...more
Best Practices for Managing U.S. Border Searches of Electronic Devices - Effective October 18, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration & Customs...more
The United States government has reported that border searches of electronic devices in the U.S. increased from 4,764 in 2015 to 23,877 in 2016. Because electronic devices have immense data storage capacity and can hold...more