In conjunction with the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia
University, the AAUP is seeking information from any faculty members who
have had their cell phones or other electronic devices searched by US
border patrol officers at the nation’s borders while traveling
internationally. The Knight First Amendment Institute
<http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/3wA/ni0YAA/t.27z/L9OIqDDWQAeDD2Wp9NN7WQ/h1/WRPubU2EhVqsK16MsjZI22qPrSzWhtSXYOMNVvb9Rg652-2B64wA7LNFcv-2FEj75gi3fu-2FuET1R8zZ3tARJavPPl1PkFx2ep7WZaFD-2Fbv7NmI3NSX86LjFsMBK6M-2B5yTj45WbWosvkLBE319VllSj8gOfWZdUFoHEf5Mj2SbmhBPgZHHyTuIyIAQFrp9vicD-2BlOSiljsnQMsnYsmdlO60cxpJOD9sb6bkMc6eTgPVssspGSIs8xViJkZYIFhMEEMY1z-2Bp5lPba7MKqFfYarIHlBLGuJQ93Y98FqLFhBOoyqWH7I6kB-2BnCB6JRdTRqA2LfaYULAKwQdEyaKJ8BLQrL1j-2Fgk1KMclI7IWi2uyqCyG7W0-3D>
is a recently created non-profit organization that works to defend and
strengthen freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age through
litigation, research, and education.
The AAUP is concerned with the chilling effect such searches may have on
academic freedom and with invasion into the privacy of academic work.
We are looking into legal issues related to a US regulation that
authorizes border patrol officers to search a traveler’s cell phones and
other electronic devices at the borders without any basis for suspecting
that the person has done anything wrong. The government enforces this
policy against both American citizens and noncitizens, and there has
been a sharp uptick in these types of searches over the past year.
We are seeking to learn more about people who have been searched and to
explore possible avenues for legal relief. We are interested in hearing
from anyone who has experienced anything along the lines of the
following while traveling into or out of the United States:
*
A border patrol officer (or ICE officer) has asked to examine the
contents of your phone, tablet, laptop, or any other electronic
device, including asking you to unlock your device and/or provide a
password to unlock your device;
*
A border patrol officer (or ICE officer) has examined the contents
of your phone or other electronic device, and/or has taken your
device outside of your presence for a period of time;
*
A border patrol officer (or ICE officer) has sought to examine your
social media postings on your device, including by asking you for
social media passwords and/or user names or handles;
*
You have reason to believe that a border patrol officer (or ICE
officer) made a copy of the contents of your cell phone or other
electronic device; or
*
A border patrol officer (or ICE officer) has kept your cell phone or
other electronic device for some period of time and then returned it
to you.
We are interested in hearing from both citizens and noncitizens. Please
send an email with a brief description of your experience and your
contact information to katie.fal...@knightcolumbia.org
<http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/3wA/ni0YAA/t.27z/L9OIqDDWQAeDD2Wp9NN7WQ/h2/mu9u-2FKgqxcZNc05dAdFKs2zYWYgMjexYs9mZJl1x4xNB9gSY94CdpmgKQeGW15-2FjVuIcdwHHGZ7EaV6SiHHEv0uNTUW3HQ6vPNc4ji-2FrnPptzvOR4ohGLa5uKCSRXrSFkO4A1NWCks2nLKgW6dOgNWL-2FsziC6i2U-2FWpQbAdygBhT0D-2Fi3-2F9CiRllBHhpOzNYDQMcUGKBhEJPzvvw5aqSU88-2Fc5qkBT-2B3s11TT5wj4-2BEYSl219OSq04XJ73KE3tn-2FVljE9HjixjAkHIBdEwyH6y0qoE2pXkwqsW6LMBxuZaNLh6ne3krBV12sbJcYxWUQseiO-2BT81AeO0GVx7zjJXgZP-2FmaC8JUx96E9No1l2cifgA4-2B-2FPPBY6zFYqHrnzqMEvXyLCq3jNXWgpBsVXBKdXVgl-2Fhrg1Jj-2BTGG-2BY-2FLgfoXwkElrENDYh7xVjIZlLBlvRnG9B1nq3DL3sEC0aHt1i-2BpZD9JwTEEZeV5Zis-2BZKzo-3D>.
We will keep your information confidential.
The American Association of University Professors
