Judge won’t let student challenge electronics searches at US border

[Time Published January 01, 2014 at 05:42AM]

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Aris Gionis

On Tuesday, a US federal judge dismissed (PDF) a 2010 case brought by an American student, Pascal Abidor, who challenged the broad ability of government officials to search and seize electronics like laptops and cell phones at international borders.

It's a major setback for civil liberties advocates, who have long chafed at the huge amount of information that can be taken—without a warrant—from citizens passing through airports. "I was at the initial hearing for the motion to dismiss—I’m not surprised [at the decision],” Abidor told Ars. "But, I am thoroughly unconvinced [as to the judge’s logic]."

Abidor said he was not sure if he and his co-plaintiffs would appeal the decision.

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