DHS/CBP/PIA-008 – Border Searches of Electronic Devices

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is publishing an updated Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to provide notice and a privacy risk assessment of the CBP policy and procedures for conducting searches of electronic devices pursuant to its border search authority. CBP is conducting this PIA update to describe recent changes to, and the reissuance of, CBP’s policy directive governing border searches of electronic devices, CBP Directive No. 3340-049A, Border Searches of Electronic Devices (January 2018). CBP is conducting a privacy risk assessment of this updated policy as applied to any device that may contain information in an electronic or digital form, such as computers, tablets, disks, drives, tapes, mobile phones and other communication devices, cameras, and music and other media players. Noting the evolution of the operating environment since the 2009 Directive was issued, along with advances in technology and other continuing developments, CBP reviewed and updated its Directive January 2018 which supersedes the August 20, 2009 directive.

Associated SORN(s)

• DHS/CBP-006 Automated Targeting System
• DHS/CBP-011 U.S. Customs and Border Protection TECS
• DHS/CBP-013 Seized Assets and Case Tracking System