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Patriot Act

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Submitted By chummere1
Words 845
Pages 4
Chummere Yarbro
February 14, 2013
HSI-170

A month in a half after 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States, the USA Patriot Act passed Congress, it's also known as the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism” Act, or more simply, the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was created with the noble intention of finding and prosecuting international terrorists operating on American soil; however, the unfortunate consequences of the Act have been drastic.
Many of the Patriot Act’s provisions are in clear violation of the U.S constitution, and that’s why I am against the USA Patriot Act. The Patriot Act basically gives almost unlimited anti- privacy powers to domestic law enforcement and international intelligence agencies. Privacy Invasions are one of the down falls of the Patriot Act. USAPA II dramatically widens the powers of government to invade the privacy of Americans and others living here.
This includes, broad new authority to compel information from ISPs, friends, relatives, businesses and others, all without informing you. Immunity for businesses that voluntarily turn over your information to law enforcement. Extra punishment for use of cryptography no connection to terrorism needed. Instant police access to your credit reports upon certification that they are sought "in connection with their duties", again with no connection to terrorism needed. Relaxed requirement of specificity for warrants for multi-use devices like PDAs and computers with telephonic capabilities. DNA collected from all terrorism suspects/DNA database information open to all law enforcement. Less judicial oversight of surveillance. This is all completely wrong.
Patriot virtually eliminates checks and balances that previously gave courts the opportunity to ensure that those powers were not abused, but the Act lets them

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