Individual Privacy vs. National Security
Individual Privacy vs. National Security
ENG 122
Individual Privacy vs. National Security Since October 26, 2001, Americans have been debating the issue of the USA PATRIOT Act (PLAW 107-56, 2001) and its claimed encroachment of American civil liberties and Constitutional rights. Many Americans oppose this new law because they believe it gives the Federal Government and its agencies too much freedom to conduct surveillance using various methods (i.e., cell phones, internet, financial systems databases), and argue that freedom goes against their First Amendment rights which protect their freedom of speech and their Fourth Amendment Rights which protect “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures” (Justice, 2006). It can be said that some Americans also believe that the PATRIOT Act is unethical and unconstitutional, based on my research, and has little to no benefit to National Security. Many Americans do not understand how important this new legislation is and how beneficial it could be when the systems that are being implemented have a chance to grow and the government agencies that have been tasked with using this new legislation have the opportunity to perfect its application. The PATRIOT Act legislation, while controversial, has been far more beneficial to the safety of the American People and National Security while not illegally violating Constitutional rights. In this research, data has been collected from various sources to show that the PATRIOT Act of 2001 does in fact have merit where National Security is concerned and does not necessarily infringe upon individual privacy unless there is good cause for the Federal agencies involved to use the methods outlined in the law to gather information on suspected acts of terrorism and other terrorist related crimes.
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, our National Security has been in the forefront of many
ENG 122
Individual Privacy vs. National Security Since October 26, 2001, Americans have been debating the issue of the USA PATRIOT Act (PLAW 107-56, 2001) and its claimed encroachment of American civil liberties and Constitutional rights. Many Americans oppose this new law because they believe it gives the Federal Government and its agencies too much freedom to conduct surveillance using various methods (i.e., cell phones, internet, financial systems databases), and argue that freedom goes against their First Amendment rights which protect their freedom of speech and their Fourth Amendment Rights which protect “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures” (Justice, 2006). It can be said that some Americans also believe that the PATRIOT Act is unethical and unconstitutional, based on my research, and has little to no benefit to National Security. Many Americans do not understand how important this new legislation is and how beneficial it could be when the systems that are being implemented have a chance to grow and the government agencies that have been tasked with using this new legislation have the opportunity to perfect its application. The PATRIOT Act legislation, while controversial, has been far more beneficial to the safety of the American People and National Security while not illegally violating Constitutional rights. In this research, data has been collected from various sources to show that the PATRIOT Act of 2001 does in fact have merit where National Security is concerned and does not necessarily infringe upon individual privacy unless there is good cause for the Federal agencies involved to use the methods outlined in the law to gather information on suspected acts of terrorism and other terrorist related crimes.
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, our National Security has been in the forefront of many
References: Associated Press. (2007). Justice Department: FBI acted illegally on data. Audit finds agency misused Patriot Act to obtain information on citizens Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. (2011). Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Regulations, Sec 314(a) Freddoso, D. (2004). Patriot Act Aided in 179 Terror Convictions. Human Events. Retrieved from http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=4507 German, M. & Richardson, M. (2009). Reclaiming Patriotism: A Call to Reconsider The Patriot Act Public Law 107-56. (2001). Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 Risen, J. (2006). State of War: the Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. Pg. U.S. Justice Department. (2011). What is the USA PATRIOT. Retrieved from http:// www.justice.gov/archive/ll/highlights.htm