8.3.1 NSA¶
This guide discusses various aspects of the Patriot Act
"On April 24, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the “Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996,” to make it easier for law enforcement to identify and prosecute domestic and international terrorists. [1]
allowing law enforcement to use surveillance and wiretapping to investigate terror-related crimes
allowing federal agents to request court permission to use roving wiretaps to track a specific terrorist suspect
allowing delayed notification search warrants to prevent a terrorist from learning they are a suspect
allowing federal agents to seek federal court permission to obtain bank records and business records to aid in national - security terror investigations and prevent money laundering for terrorism financing
improving information and intelligence sharing between government agencies
providing tougher penalties for convicted terrorists and those who harbor them
allowing search warrants to be obtained in any district where terror-related activity occurs, no matter where the warrant is executed
ending the statute of limitations for certain terror-related crimes
making it harder for aliens involved in terrorist activities to enter the United States
providing aid to terrorism victims and public safety officers involved in investigating or preventing terrorism or responding to terrorist attacks [1]
"According to a 2015 Washington Post article, the Justice Department admitted, “FBI agents can’t point to any major terrorism cases they’ve cracked thanks to the key snooping powers in the Patriot Act." [1]
Another important aspect of the NSA survellence that Edward Snowden leaked is known as PRISM. PRISM was created in 2008 with the intention of intercepting and storing “suspicious” communications. While it is clearly stated that they can only monitor “court approved” communications the [Edward Snowden Leaks] proved otherwise. According to an article published by The Guardian
judges have signed off on broad orders which allow the NSA to make use of information "inadvertently" collected from domestic US communications without a warrant. `3 <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/20/fisa-court-nsa-without-warrant>`_
According to the official document:
"The Government cannot target anyone under the court-approved procedures for Section 702
collection unless there is an appropriate, and documented, foreign intelligence purpose for the
acquisition (such as for the prevention of terrorism, hostile cyber activities, or nuclear
proliferation) and the foreign target is reasonably believed to be outside the United States.
We cannot target even foreign persons overseas without a valid foreign intelligence purpose." [3]
SNDL¶
SNDL (Save now, decrypt later), sometimes known as “Harvest now, decrypt later,” was a concept first exposed by the Edward Snowden leaks in 2013 Link.
8.3.1.1 Timeline¶
- **2001**
September 11: Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. September 13: Introduction of the Combating Terrorism Act by Senators Orrin Hatch and Jon Kyl. September 20: Introduction of the Public Safety and Cyber Security Enhancement Act by Rep. Lamar Smith. September 28: Introduction of the Intelligence to Prevent Terrorism Act by Senators Bob Graham and Jay Rockefeller. October: Proposal for the USA PATRIOT Act is drafted. October 26: USA PATRIOT Act signed into law.
- **2004**
April 9: ACLU files a lawsuit challenging parts of the USA PATRIOT Act. [1]
- **2005**
April: Senate Judicial Hearing on the USA PATRIOT Act. July 21: Select Committee on Intelligence proposes the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005. Renewal of several provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
**2011**
Sunset provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act come into effect, leading to debates on reauthorization.
- **2015**
USA FREEDOM Act enacted, modifying some provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
- **2018**
Further discussions on the implications of the USA PATRIOT Act and related laws. [3]
8.3.1.2 Timeline visual¶
