The Trump administration just banned passengers from 8 Muslim-majority countries from bringing electronic devices larger than a cell phone on board. And the UK government quickly followed with a similar edict.

Government officials claim the new policy -- which was sent to airlines in secret -- is based on a credible security threat. But technology experts say that just doesn’t make any sense.

A dangerous device is just as dangerous in cargo as it is in the main cabin. And if there is really a danger, issuing a ban that only affects certain airlines and passengers from certain countries wouldn’t stop it. Plus, storing so many batteries in cargo could actually create a whole other safety risk.

This ban seems like a classic case of government officials who don’t understand technology pushing policies that won’t make us safer, but have dangerous side effects. This policy would force journalists and human rights advocates to check their devices containing sensitive information, potentially exposing them to surveillance from authoritarian governments, or simply to getting their laptops stolen.

This new policy isn’t really about security. It’s about something else. At it’s best, it’s misguided and a waste of time. At it’s worst, it’s dangerous, blatant bigotry, or possibly even corporate corruption.

Because get this: US-based airlines flying from the same countries are exempt from the ban. So there’s a real possibility that this policy is just crony capitalism to favor a few airline companies, and that the edict has more to do with corporate lobbying than national security.

Sign our petition telling the Department of Homeland Security to reverse this foolish, discriminatory, and potentially dangerous device ban.

Here's the text: "The Department of Homeland Security’s new ban on larger electronic devices from 8 Muslim-Majority countries is blatant discrimination that experts say won’t make us safer. Respect the basic rights of all passengers and reverse this policy immediately."