Wendy Only

USA PATRIOT Act

The USA PATRIOT Act was enacted in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The act allows law enforcement officials to listen to phone conversations or view emails to investigate a potential threat of terrorism. Some believe this power is an invasion of privacy, especially when the country is not in a heightened state of security. There is a tremendous amount of debate over whether the USA PATRIOT Act and similar laws should be effective only when the country is in a heightened state of terrorism alert.• Comment on how well the USA Patriot Act balances the interests of law enforcement versus individual rights to free speech and privacy. Does the terrorism threat level affect your views? Explain and give examples where appropriate.• Perform a web search to identify a law or regulation meant to protect against terrorism or similar security threats in a country other than the U.S. How does this law or regulation affect individual free speech or privacy when using a phone, sending e-mails, or surfing the web? Do you think this is appropriate? Explain.