So when does ones privacy and National Security go to far? On Thursday there was a new law passed under the Obama administration giving Homeland Security more rights to search your computer and any electronic device you may have while traveling. OK I'm all for the National Security but I think this new ruling goes overboard. In the past when going though security you are required to remove any laptop or electronic device to be scanned individually. There have been some occasions when they might even ask you to turn them on. I know I had that happen to me. I was coming across the US - Mexican boarder and I was required to not only turn on my laptop but to plug in my external. No files were searched they just wanted to see it power up. I had no problem doing that.

Under the new law here is what could now happen:

• Searches to detect information about potential terrorism plots as well as other crimes such as child pornography and copyright infringement.
• Asking people to turn on the device to verify it is what it appears to be.
• Searches of such devices without a person's consent, most of the time in the presence of the owner, unless there are national security or law enforcement reasons to conduct it elsewhere.
• Immigration and customs officers can also hold the devices or the data, which may be copied without the knowledge of the owner for further review.

Now there is a note that special care for business, medical and personal data should be taken.

OK I understand making sure that someone doesn't sneak into the country with a bomb or some dangerous device masked to look like a electronic device but come on I think searching ones personal files is a far stretch. So what are your thoughts? Does the law go to far? If you think the law goes to far what do you think is a reasonable search of electronics? Has anyone ever had their electronics searched more then the standard x-ray machine?

You can read more about the new law HERE.