10 years of a diminished America- The Patriot Act is a decade old today

[n2doc]

The USA Patriot Act, the law granting the government vast surveillance powers that was adopted in the wake of September 11, turns a decade old Wednesday.

But despite its namesake of “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism,” the law seemingly is being invoked far more to target domestic crime than for fighting terrorism.

The act, which has remained largely the same since President George W. Bush signed the legislation six weeks after 9/11, among other things gives the government powers to acquire phone, banking and other records via the power of a so-called “national security letter,” which does not require a court warrant.

National security letters, perhaps the most invasive facet of the law, are written demands from the FBI that compel internet service providers, financial institutions and others to hand over confidential records about their customers, such as subscriber information, phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and arguably websites you have visited.

more

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/10/patriot-act-turns-ten/

[peace13]

1. Tears!

Painful memories for those who where watching and speaking out!

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Shame and condemnation upon all who supported it.

Fuck every last one of them.

[Taverner]

3. Hey! Freedom isn't free!

To have freedom we have to give up all of our freedoms. Otherwise we won't be free!

[truebrit71]

4. I am so glad that the Harvard Constitutional Scholar is in the Whitehouse...

..to defend the...oh wait...never mind...I forgot...what was said on the campaign trail isn't supposed to be remembered once elected...

Hope and Change*



*Your actual change may vary depending upon political affiliation, gender, medical condition, skin-colour or smoking habits...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

It tolls for thee.


My apologies to John Donne.

[n2doc]

6. kick n/t