The Patriot Act was passed during a period of unprecedented national unity after the terrorist attacks in 2001, which left an estimated 3,000 people dead in New York City, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The USA Patriot Act (a.k.a. Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act) was made to assist the government to prevent any further terrorist attacks on America. Among others, the act expanded the governments ability to conduct surveillance, allows the CIA and FBI to share information about suspected terrorists, and gives the government the ability to monitor computer use and library transactions. When President Bush signed the law, in October of 2001, the overwhelming response from America was in favor of the law, but for various reasons the approval rating for the law dropped down to two-thirds of the American population.
Two arguments that people are most passionate and vocal about are closely related, invasion of privacy and freedom of speech. Most opponents of the act can sum up their worries in saying that they do not believe that the act is making an equal balance between protecting Americans against terrorist and protecting Americans" rights. Critics have a problem with the provision in the law in which it gives intelligence and law enforcement agencies more power to investigate. They now have the power to access library and bookstore files without asking or telling the people whose information is being accessed, and critics say that this will lead to the FBI and CIA overstepping their boundaries. Warrants that are supposed to be used for national security will be used for criminal prosecution, some opponents say. Besides violating well-established rights of privacy the law also threatens freedom of speech because people may choose not to read about certain topics on the internet or look at certain books in the fear of being watched by the government.
