Why I Hate The USA Patriot Act

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I often get criticised by conservatives, such as being called unpatriotic, over my criticism of the USA Patriot Act. They ask things like "Well, wouldn't you like to be safe?" Well, of course I would but NOT at the cost of my civil rights and liberties. Anyhow, here are some of the problems I have with it:No Accountability – The PATRIOT Act weakened key oversight and accountability checks on the powers of the Executive Branch, reducing judges to mere “rubber stamps” and leaving many decisions about investigative techniques to the discretion of FBI agents. Sneak and Peek Searches - The USA Patriot Act broadened the government's power to search an individual's home without telling him or her until weeks or months later. Access to Sensitive Business records - The USA PATRIOT Act gave the FBI nearly unlimited power to obtain business records, including sensitive files like medical, library and bookstore records, with a secret court order issued with no factual showing of need. Broad Definition of Terrorism – The PATRIOT Act contains a definition of “domestic terrorism” so broad that someone committing a misdemeanor could end up being dubbed a terrorist, thereby facing asset forfeiture and other serious consequences. Monitoring Computer “Trespassers” Without a Court Order – The USA PATRIOT ACT allows ISPs, universities and network administrators to authorize government surveillance of anyone they deem a “computer trespasser” withouta court order and with no notice to the person being monitored. Secret Investigations – The FBI’s domestic intelligence investigations under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a statute that was expanded by the USA PATRIOT ACT, occur in total secrecy, with almost no information released to the public. Monitoring of Email and Web Surfing – The USA PATRIOT ACT extended to the Internet the already broad authority to monitor transactional (non-content) information about communications with very little justification. A record of every call you make and every email you receive offers a full picture of your life, even without the contents. Expansive “Roving” Wiretap Authority – The USA PATRIOT and of course, I've beenACT permitted the FBI to use “roving” wiretaps in intelligence investigations, but it did not include safe guards long used in criminal investigations to avoid recording the conversations of innocent people. End-Run Around Standard Criminal Procedures – The PATRIOT Act authorized the FBI to use special intelligence investigative techniques under FISA, which has lower standards than regular criminal law, even where the primary purpose of the investigation is to obtain information for a criminal trial. This essentially permits the FBI to collect evidence for criminal cases under lower standards. Personally I just can't understand how anybody can support this kind of crap and this kind of power. This kind of thing only fosters mistrust of our government.