![]() Section 207 of the Act expanded the government’s authority to conduct surveillance of agents of foreign powers and non-U.S. ![]() Section 206 of the USA PATRIOT Act allowed for roving wiretaps, which covered multiple devices without the need for individual authorizations, thus permitting the government to surveil targets of terrorist investigations who rapidly changed locations or devices. The only way the government could conduct surveillance on multiple devices used by a foreign target of interest was to obtain separate court authorizations for each device. These court orders omitted the identification of specific devices or places where the surveillance was to occur when the target was likely to change locations or cell phones rapidly. Under existing criminal law at the time Congress passed the act, the government had the ability to obtain “roving wiretaps” or surveillance on multiple phones for ordinary crimes. Bush signing a reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act in 2005. These gave the federal government greater authority to track, intercept, and gather communications and intelligence regarding suspected terrorists at home and abroad. However, a handful of changes to government surveillance powers in Titles II and V of the Act were widely debated. Many of its provisions were relatively noncontroversial, including increasing communication among different federal agencies in foreign intelligence gathering and granting greater regulatory powers to combat foreign money laundering and terrorism and shore up border security. The act contained 10 titles, or sections, that covered hundreds of pages of text and amended at least 15 existing statutes. The USA PATRIOT Act’s name is an acronym for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism”. A fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers fought back. In the background remains the question whether American citizens should trade some of their freedom and privacy for more safety and security.Īl-Qaeda terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (pictured here) on September 11, 2001. Almost two decades after its initial passage, the law, including its most controversial provisions, is still in effect, having been renewed repeatedly by successive administrations and Congresses controlled by both parties. Critics argued it gave the government too much power to pry into the private lives of citizens and violated constitutional liberties. Supporters said the law would make America safer. Bush to declare a War on Terror and Congress to hastily pass the USA PATRIOT Act 45 days later. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States led President George W. Military Intervention in Afghanistan Decision Point the Does the Threat of Terrorism Justify Increased Surveillance? Point-Counterpoint the Was the Invasion of Iraq Justified? Point-Counterpoint and the Security, Liberty, and the USA PATRIOT Act Lesson. Use this narrative after covering 9/11 to discuss the post-9/11 United States and the implications for domestic and foreign policy.
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