Congress hears outcry over laptop grabs

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- Public outcry over airport seizures of laptops and other electronic gear is reportedly spurring U.S. congressional action.

U.S. officials have been searching and seizing laptops, digital cameras, cellphones and other electronic devices at the border for several years with few public details, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., chairman of a subcommittee that looked into the searches at a Wednesday hearing, said custom agents must have the right for such searches when there is suspected criminal or terrorist activity.

"But, suspicion-less searchers of Americans' laptops and similar devices go too far," he said. "Congress should not allow this gross violation of privacy."

While legal scholars agree that any routine search is considered "reasonable" under the Fourth Amendment to the U.s. Constitution, Feingold said he fears the law hasn't kept up with technology, the Times said.

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives says the issue also is of particular concern for businesses, which risk proprietary data loss when executives travel abroad.