WASHINGTON, D.C.: US rights groups sued the government Wednesday over the increasing use of warrantless searches of cellphones and computers of travelers, including American citizens, arriving at US borders from abroad. Several but not all of those named in the suit were Muslims, and all complained of being pressured—and in one case physically forced—to give phones to border officers for examination. In several cases the devices were kept for several months before being returned, according to the suit. None of those subjected to the inspections were accused of any crime or wrongdoing. “The government cannot use the border as a dragnet to search through our private data,” ACLU attorney Esha Bhandari said in a statement.

Source: Manila Times September 14, 2017 03:22 UTC