Ninth Circuit Requires Reasonable Suspicion for Forensic Laptop Searches at the Border

United States v. Cotterman
By Casey Holzapfel ­– Edited by Jessica Vosgerchian

In an en banc decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a decision of the District Court of Arizona suppressing evidence found in a laptop seized by border agents. The Ninth Circuit held that comprehensive searches of electronic devices must meet a standard of reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Ron Gonski

Smartphone Unlockers May Soon Rejoice (Possibly)

U.K. High Court Blacklists Piracy Websites, Raises Possibility of Active Monitoring

Effect of the Supreme Court’s Decision in Clapper Already Being Felt

Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Wireless Wiretapping Law for Lack of Standing

Clapper v. Amnesty Int’l USA
By Samantha Rothberg – Edited by Jacob Rogers

The Supreme Court reversed and remanded the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which had held that a group of attorneys, journalists and human rights organizations had standing to challenge the FISA Amendments Act on the basis of an “objectively reasonable likelihood” that the plaintiffs’ communications would be intercepted under the law.

Supreme Court Balances Privacy Rights Against Law Enforcement in DNA Collection Case

Maryland v. King
By Kathleen McGuinness – Edited by Pio Szamel

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Maryland v. King, a challenge to the constitutionality of warrantless DNA sampling of persons arrested for serious crimes. If the policy is found to be unconstitutional, twenty-eight other states and the federal government face potential invalidation of similar laws.

Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Dorothy Du

Song Wins Contest to Circumvent “Happy Birthday to You” Copyright

Privacy Concerns to Temper Excitement over Google Glass

3-D Printing Gets Shout-Out in State of Union, but Copyright Concerns Growing