On June 1st, the worst of the USA Patriot Act will sunset, thus restoring some of our lost privacy. However, as many already know, the entrenched legislators in D.C. will fight to extend it (it’s already begun). This vile piece of legislation should have never been signed into law.
The USA PATRIOT Act is set to sunset the following provisions:
§201 Wiretapping for terrorism cases
§202 Wiretapping for computer fraud and abuse
§203(b) and (d) Sharing of wiretap and foreign intelligence information
§§204, 206, 207, 214, 215, 218, and 225 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act related sections including roving wiretaps
§209 Warranted seizure of voice mail messages
§217 Computer trespasser communications
§220 Nationwide service or warrants for electronic evidence
§223 Privacy violation civil liability
Of course, the USA Patriot Act, is not the only legislative/governmental knee-jerk reaction to that horrible day in September of 2001, but it is the most heinous and far-reaching. For example, how many knew about the Patriot Act II? It was actually titled, “Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003,” and was thankfully never introduced to congress. However, “some provisions of this act have been tacked onto other bills such as the Senate Spending bill and subsequently passed.”
As a nation, we seem to have dispensed with reason, and common sense. Let us return to a more normal, and civil society by allowing these provisions within the USA Patriot Act to sunset on June 1st, 2015. Of course, this is just a first step, as there have been other legislative, and judicial attacks upon our civil liberties, not to mention our ability to self-govern (think Citizens United), but it’s an extremely important, and huge first step we must take.
We need to realize we’re all in this together, and then take a giant step towards the center.
– Benjamin Franklin, 1759
UPDATE: On June 1, 2015, many provisions within the USA Patriot Act were allowed to sunset … for a handful of days. Congress then passed the USA Freedom Act, an end run around the controversy for the NSA, and the government at large (we’re fairly sure that a few more alphabet agencies will also benefit). Now, they’ll be able to get their grubby little paws on far more information directly from the telecommunication companies that “provide” your services. Your tax dollars hard at work.
