US/Canada Border Guards:Check IPODs, Laptops," Illegal Downloads!"

by Barry Artiste | May 25, 2008 at 07:20 am

3936 views | 17 Recommendations | 18 comments

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Certainly the Bill Gates and Musicians and Recording Companies of the World must be smiling, as a proposal to allow US/Canada Border Guards search and seizure of your Ipod or Laptop to look for copyright infringements such as software and music amongst other illegal activities you may have on your hard drive, is something even Orwell could not have predicted when Big Brother 1984 was stated nor forseen as Big Brother running Amuk!

Say for instance you're making a "Run for the Border" for that "US Cheap Gas Fillup", and your laptop, Ipod is in the back seat, Hell a CD is playing in your Cardeck for that matter. For sake of arguement that CD is your teens pirated one off download, or perhaps you lend your Timmy or Britney your laptop to do homework and Teens being curious may have downloaded a friends pirated Ipod music, or perhaps viewed terrorist websites, software movie, or heaven forbid Barely Legal PORN, it will certainly be embarrassing for you to explain to the Border Guard during your intensive and thorough cavity search or lying face down on the pavement protesting Loudly "It's Not Mine", It's Not Mine"! As a Customs are impounding virtually everything you brought with you, perhaps even your vehicle.

North American Law states, "Ignorance is no Excuse"- Be Warned, perhaps now we should only bring what we do not care to lose in the event of a Border search and seizure.

Proposal would slap limits on iPods, laptop computersBorder guards could search devices for copied music and moviesVito Pilieci, Canwest News ServicePublished: Saturday, May 24, 2008
OTTAWA -- The federal government is secretly negotiating an agreement to revamp international copyright laws that could make the information on Canadian iPods, laptop computers or other personal electronic devices illegal and greatly increase the difficulty of travelling with such devices.

The deal could also impose strict regulations on Internet service providers, forcing those companies to hand over customer information without a court order.

Called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), the new plan would see Canada join other countries, including the United States and members of the European Union, to form an international coalition against copyright infringement.

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eastvanray

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:00 on May 25th, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Wow! That is BS! Has the US Congress had a read of their own constitution lately? This is US business interests using the US Government to do its bidding. If Canada agrees to this without a retaliation I will not be voting Conservative again. And I will be avoiding US made products and travel. The US is looking less and less like a free society and more like a paranoid dictator state every day.

"Those who would trade liberty for security deserve neither." Ben Franklin

Barry Artiste

at 13:05 on May 25th, 2008

Hey don't shoot the conservative messenger, this was on the Liberal table long before conservatives took power, it was as I recall a Industry trade and commerce initiative. Senate Liberal Majority will not give those conservatives against it much leeway. I would wait and find out which party was for and which against it, before making a decision, I know I am.

BTW thanks for comments, GS and the visit Eastvan

Mikasi

at 13:27 on May 25th, 2008

"This is US business interests using the US Government to do its bidding."

And this is new how? ;)

Mikasi

at 13:29 on May 25th, 2008

Does this mean that the gov'ts of Canada and America will be working tirelessly at the borders to confiscate Chinese ripped off DVD's computer programs or other Chinese pirated goods?

Eh, I thought not.

Michelle Says So

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:32 on May 25th, 2008

Barry this is crazy. I thought my mom reading my diary at 16 was inexcusable! (At least she had something juicy to read.)

I better remember this before I travel. Just think...someone might find out I have Justin Timberlake songs downloaded on my computer?! I better get rid of the evidence now! Ooops? Did I just admit that?

ianivs

at 14:07 on May 25th, 2008

A judge recently decided that your laptop is just like any other piece of luggage and is subject to be searched any time a border guard want to. You can take steps to protect yourself, there are legitimate reasons why you would not want 100% legal material to fall in the hands of anyone.

But this whole copyright police thing is ridiculous! In particular because "the guards would also be responsible for determining what is infringing content and what is not." Now these guards not only have to worry about drug smugglers and other REAL crimes, now they also need to fully understand copyright law. Even if they do (but they wont), there is absolutely no way they'll be able to tell a legally ripped mp3 from one I downloaded off the net.

And copyright is not just about music and movies. Will they be going through you vacation photos and videos just to make sure you didn't point your device at a TV?

everchanging

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:29 on May 25th, 2008

Barry Artiste, I wonder if they will do a virus check on the laptops prior to them downloading, uploading or deleting the music, software, program before they (if they do) return them to the owner. What if this was implemented (activated), who to say some would not be will to loss an aka laptop for the greater good and want to get flagged, searched and downloaded - only to be one big problem for the system used (aka virus). What kind of determination of product infringement will be used to check the item they search.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." Joann Goethe

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

Heritage

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:54 on May 25th, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.

This law, if immplemented, will disproportionately affect the young and the poor.

Barry Artiste

at 15:20 on May 25th, 2008

Thanks everyone for visiting and your comments, what made me laugh was Ianivs and the pointing of your camera anywhere near a TV. so True, yet so Sad/ Again, thanks everyone.

eastvanray

at 20:38 on May 25th, 2008

As a former politico I know that it is the party that enacts the changes that are to blame. Not the one that opened the discussions. No one is forcing the Conservatives to go along with any Liberal initiatives. If they roll over they certainly won't be seing me at any fundraising dinners. I guess I will be keeping all my confidential info on a flash drive or a hotmail account when I cross the border (that is IF I cross the border). This whole thing is just to Orwell. Funny when Russia is a freer country than the US. Who woulda thunk it?

duo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:09 on May 25th, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.

With Congress having passed stuff like HR 1955, this is even more interesting. Think even the idea of democracy will last a while longer?

Barry Artiste

at 22:12 on May 25th, 2008

I do not know Duo, didn't the Greco-Romans invent Democracy? Perhaps USA and Canada can be charged for copyright infringement?

eastvanray

at 11:07 on May 26th, 2008

Barry,

There is another piece on this POS in today's Sun. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ae997868-220b-4dae-bf4f-47f6fc96ce5e

I sent an email to my MP (David Emerson who is negotiating this sellout). His email address is emersd@parl.gc.ca . I suggest all Conservative supporters send him an email notifying him of our displeasure. If he signs this not only will I not vote for him in a riding that he is far from safe in (Vancouver - Kingsway) I will campaign against him. I have never voted Liberal in a federal election and I hate Dion but this is tantamount to introducing the Patriot Act in Canada.

Barry Artiste

at 11:18 on May 26th, 2008

Thanks Eastvan, way ahead of you, I too sent an email expressing moi displeasure. I wonder what Political favours the Conservatives got in exchange for passing this bill? One wonders ~As for me, I'll always vote conservative versus Loiberal, cause iof the Libverals ever get back in, God friggin help this country with Stephan "Neddie Nancy Flanders" Dion as Prime Minister.

eastvanray

at 11:38 on May 26th, 2008

Oh,

I would never want a Liberal government. But I could live without Emerson as my MP if this is the kind of "conservative" he is. I sent an email to all my Canadian contacts encouraging them to email this asshole too. His seat is questionable in the next election. He is going to need all the votes he can get. I could always help out a Conservative in another riding. I have 2 ridings I can legally vote in.

Barry Artiste

at 15:33 on May 26th, 2008

Well for me, can you trust anyone who walks the Commons floor and changes Party alliances so easily?

Though you cannot blame the Conservatives for taking him, as they needed the seat.

eastvanray

at 15:39 on May 26th, 2008

It is not his fault. I am sure he is just following orders but he will be the target. It is then up to him to push it uphill to Harper. Maybe he will switch back to being a Liberal and run a campaign against all the things he did as a conservative!