|
Key provisions of Patriot Act
The USA Patriot Act is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.
TEMPORARY SURVEILLANCE POWERS*
-- Reduce court oversight for tapping phones, tracing e-mail, retrieving voice mail, tracking Web surfing
-- Give FBI access to business, other records "to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities"
-- Allow government to monitor "computer trespassers" on AOL etc. without court order
IMMIGRATION
-- Allow detention of aliens suspected of terror activity for seven days without hearing
-- Allow detention of aliens who are certified threats to national security
-- Allow deportation of aliens who raise funds for terrorist organizations
-- Restrict access of nonimmigrant aliens to biological agents and toxins
PERMANENT SURVEILLANCE POWERS
-- Permit secret government searches with notice to owner after "reasonable" time
-- Permit release of grand jury information to U.S. law enforcement, intelligence, immigration officers
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
-- Allow government to require foreign banks to reveal customers, transactions in certain conditions
-- Require U.S. banks to monitor certain private accounts held by aliens
CIVIL LIBERTIES
-- Allow individuals to sue government for unauthorized disclosure of certain data
-- Establish Justice Department official to monitor civil liberties and report to Congress
*Through Dec. 31, 2005
|
