Taking your laptop to the US?

Be sure to hide all your data first…

In April a US court ruled that border agents can search your laptop, or any other electronic device, when you’re entering the country. They can take your computer and download its entire contents, or keep it for several days.

Meanwhile in Canada border guards could be able to search ipods and other devices for content that “infringes” on copyright laws, such as ripped CDs and movies.

According to an article on Canada.com, the Canadian federal government is secretly negotiating an agreement called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which would “create a international regulator that could turn border guards and other public security personnel into copyright police”.