Second Circuit Allows Government to Search Electronic Devices at the Border

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that border agents may search travelers' electronic devices without suspicion, rejecting arguments that such searches violate First and Fourth Amendment protections. The Knight First Amendment Institute and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press had urged the court to require a warrant before searching cellphones at the border, citing concerns about access to sensitive information, journalists' sources, and privacy rights. The decision upheld the government's warrantless search of a defendant's cell phone as evidence in a criminal case.