Originally Posted by docr775
The discussion started with the TSA personnel looking through the laptop. Although, I am not sure of the legality of them looking through your files without a warrant, I can tell you that the laptop has to be turned on and it has to show functionality.
A bomb could still be hidden in a functioning laptop.
Regardless, turning it on to show functionality and snooping around at the files on the laptop are two different things.
So, although some of the people who do the searches do push the limits, their job is to make sure that you get back on the ground safely so you can argue some more about what civil liberties they have infringed. Happy flying!!!!!
As mentioned above, we're talking about customs, not the TSA.
Regardless, I hardly doubt that having "immoral materials" - even a lot of it - is going to bring down an airliner.