Steven Teppler: ‘Until uniform limits are established through Supreme Court rulings or congressional action, attorneys must remain vigilant and implement preventive strategies to protect sensitive data at the U.S. border.’

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and portable data repositories (external drives) are essential professional tools. Accordingly, as the scope of digital privacy has also expanded — so have the risks. Nowhere is this more evident than at the United States border, where federal authorities exercise expansive powers to search travelers and their belongings, including digital devices. For attorneys and their clients, these searches pose unique threats to privileged information, sensitive corporate data, and constitutional protections. Understanding the evolving legal landscape is vital to preparing for cross-border travel without sacrificing confidentiality or compliance.

The Legal Foundation: The Border Search Exception

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