Read me first: Taking your laptop into the US? Be sure to hide all your data first | Technology | The Guardian
Last month a US court ruled that border agents can search your laptop, or any other electronic device, when youre entering the country. They can take your computer and download its entire contents, or keep it for several days.

Another initiative to restrict our freedoms in an effort to protect them. How far do they have to go before we are so protected and safe that life becomes not only dull but run by an elite few? If they have my data, they could notionally run my life. 

I’m a fan of the Jack Reacher novels written by Lee Child. Reacher lives on the road. No address, no phone, no ID, no bank account. He’s virtually untraceable – apart from being 6’5″ and having a knack of being at the centre of big trouble!! He has something to teach us who live on social networking sites, blogs and email lists with login details and profiles that stretch deep into cyberspace. Having your data downloaded is only of concern to those who have data. We all know that most of the people these measures are aimed at don’t carry data. 

Are the “authorities” tightening this net simply because they can and they have to be seem to be doing something. It’s all pointless if the fish they are trying to catch are swimming in different ocean off another coast.