Coming in from abroad? Watch your laptop.

Recent public attention has brought light to legislation that allows the Department of Homeland Security to confiscate the laptop of any traveler entering the United States from abroad and keep it indefinitely without any probably cause for suspicion. Additionally, the device may be subject to investigation and data retrieved from it can be analyzed by other agencies for data decryption, translation, or reasons at the DHS' discretion.

According to the DHS, these measures have long been in place, but have garnered public attention only recently due to inquiries made by civil liberties groups. The DHS may "detain" devices "for a reasonable period of time [...]absent individualized suspicion." All passengers coming into the country, including US citizens, are included in this legislation.

The policy also applies to "any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form," which would include cell phones, pagers, beepers, iPods, cameras, and flash drives, in addition to "all papers and other written documentation [and] written materials commonly referred to as 'pocket trash' or 'pocket litter.' "

Any copies made of seized material must be destroyed once the passenger has been cleared, but any reports or descriptions on the information will remain documented. And though the policy does include a clause for protecting sensitive information such as business trade secrets and attorney-client privileged information, no such clause exists for personal files such as medical or financial records.

The full policy can be viewed here.