Against the Patriot Act

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Against the Patriot Act

• By Dan Fusco
• Section 605

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Patriot Act

• The Uniting and Strengthening America by
  Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept
  and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001
• Signed into law by president George W. Bush.

George W. Bush
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More About the Act

• The bill was praised by congress and the
  president, but is very controversial to the
  federal legislation.
• Clearly breaks the 1st and 4th ammendments.

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• Originally passed after the Sept. 11 attacks.
• Intended to fight terrorism in the USA and
  abroad.
• Dramatically improved law enforcements powers.

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Federal Courts Disagree

• Thought It interfered with civil rights.
• Restricts due process for individuals in
  organized crime, and drug dealers.

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Should the US need warrants to begin a search?
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Amends the Following

• FISA- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
• Electronic Surveillance
• Physical Searches (Andrew Gottlieb)
• Defines how foreign intelligence investigations
  were to be performed

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Continued

• USA Act
• A terrorist who was not an agent of a foreign
  power could be the target of a federal
  investigation of foreign intelligence.

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Problems with the Bill

• Congress acted far to quickly, to give the
  intelligence and government officials as much
  power as the bill allows.
• Overall, the new law fails to strike an
  appropriate balance that provides necessary law
  enforcement tools without improperly infringing
  on civil liberties.

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Law allows for

• minimal judicial supervision of expanded
  telephone wiretaps and internet surveillance.
• expanded ability of the federal government to
  conduct secret searches
• power to designate domestic groups as terrorist
  organizations

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Wiretaps

• Creates no privacy zones
• If you are in contact with someone who is under
  surveillance, your phones will be tapped.
• Innocent people are subject to wiretaps.

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Access to library records

• The federal government may seek a court order to
  obtain any tangible thing from any business.
• Includes library records, and book store records.

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Internet Monitoring

• All laws requiring a warrant are overlooked.
• Courts must respect evidence obtained even if the
  Gov. has gone on a huge search on someone.

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Secret Searches

• Searches can be done for the purpose of
  discovering terrorists.
• Unlike before, where a warrant or prior evidence
  was required.

Warrant
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References

• http//www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot/
  November 14, 2006.
• http//www.lifeandliberty.gov/. November 13,
  2006.
• http//www.slate.com/id/2087984/. November 10,
  2006.
• http//www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid
  15192. November 14, 2006.