It is noted that this applies to any devices and media capable of storing information in digital or analog format: hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, PDAs, video and audio tapes.
The new rules apply to both foreigners and U.S. citizens. It is noted that devices may be confiscated for an indefinite period necessary to check the information they contain. Moreover, the data itself may be copied by federal employees and freely transferred to private organizations for decryption or translation from a foreign language.
After the inspection, copies of all data must be destroyed, but federal agents may retain any of their extracts or notes, as well as summary reports on information found on the computers.
As reported by Lenta.ru, representatives of the Department of Homeland Security note that these measures are aimed solely at combating terrorism. According to them, they have long been unofficially practiced at many airports, but increased public interest forced them to announce this publicly.