USA PATRIOT Act

Less than a week after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress introduced the USA PATRIOT Act along with a number of other bills intended to make a number of legislative changes which significantly increased the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States. The bill was passed with no debate and no changes.

The USA PATRIOT Act introduced sweeping changes to U.S. law, including amendments to:

• Wiretap Statute
• Electronic Communications Privacy Act
• Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
• Pen Register and Trap and Trace Statute
• Money Laundering Act
• Immigration and Nationality Act
• Money Laundering Control Act
• Bank Secrecy Act
• Right to Financial Privacy Act
• Fair Credit Reporting Act

The amendments made a number of significant changes, including the following:

• Interception of “Computer Trespasser” Communications
• New treatment of voicemail communications
• Application of the cable Companies to electronic surveillance
• Nationwide application of surveillance orders and search warrants
• Authority to conduct secret searches
• Expanded scope of subpoenas for records of electronic communications
• Lowered standards for foreign intelligence surveillance
• Roving wiretaps authority
• Expanded use of Pen Register/Trap and Trace Devices

The act also created an array of new federal crimes