The insecurity state

[nancylebov]

Overview of searches, imprisonment, and electronic equipment seizures at the borders, which seem to be targeted at people who aren't keeping their heads down enough-- a student of Islamic studies, a programmer associated with defending Bradley Manning, a woman who's made a film about anti-US insurgents in Iraq and another about radicals in Yemen. Admittedly, sometimes apparently random people get harassed, too.

"Courts have long held that Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches do not apply at the border" -- I had no idea this was doctrine, but I suppose it explains a lot of what's going on.

An editorial about the above: Laptop seizures have a chilling effect

A number of cities are installing audio surveillance on buses. Are you feeling safer now?

"Cities that have installed the systems or have taken steps to procure them include San Francisco, California; Eugene, Oregon; Traverse City, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore Maryland; Hartford, Connecticut; and Athens, Georgia."

Comments

[andrewducker]

The buses in Edinburgh have numerous video feeds, shown on a TV at the front of the bus.

[madfilkentist]

I've given up flying from US airports. Now even driving to FilKONtario is starting to feel scary.

[zenlizard]

Oh, Montgomery County (MD), and probably other local bus jurisdictions have video surveillance.

[nancylebov]

On the buses or in the stations?

[batdina]

busses and BART here are surveilled. on BART it's definitely video. it's the silver lining of my not being able to ride BART any longer that I can avoid that. Then again, surveillance has not stopped BART police from being their usual asshole selves. clearly the video is for the benefit of someone other than the average rider.