ct (Public Law 107-56) is an extensive and complex piece of legislation. In general, its provisions are intended to make it easier for the government to investigate and respond to terrorist activities, actors, and threats. On its face, the PATRIOT Act was designed to facilitate law enforcement activities at the national and international level in order to prevent a repetition of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 (Poynder, 2002). It was enacted after President Bush proclaimed in a nationwide televisions broadcast after September 11, 2001 that the U.S. would adopt strict measures to safeguard the internal stability of the nation (USA PATRIOT Actà, 2002).
Almost immediately following the passage of the Act, human rights and civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), objected to various provisions of the Act and charged that it was far too sweeping in allowing government law enforcement and other agencies to gain access to information that has traditionally been considered confidential and private and therefore not accessible to the government (Madigan, 2002).
At issue, from the perspective of the ACLU and other citizens' groups, is the question of the degree to which the government has been given what is essentially a "blank check" that can be used to invade the privacy of ordinary citizens (Immediate and totalà, 2002). Other complaints emphasize the fact that the PATRIOT Act provides virtually unlimited powers to the executive branch of government while providing few safeguards that would protect citizens and non-citizens from excessive government intrusion into their lives (Immediate and total repealà, 2002).
Thus, almost immediately after its enactment, a number of voices were raised in opposition to the PATRIOT Act. The Act is, according to O'Meara (2002), highly controversial and far too broad in its provisions. It is therefore important to undertake an eva...