In response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the USA PATRIOT Act greatly expanded the ability of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use National Security Letters (NSLs) in investigations and the contexts in which they could be used by relaxing the standards under which NSLs could be employed. NSLs allow investigators to acquire a significant…

Discussion of information and the war on terrorism following the September 11th attacks focuses on a survey of legal provisions and new security-related practices in government and business as security competes with civil liberties. Topics include the Fourth Amendment overseas; Department of Justice legal initiatives; military tribunals; security…

In October 2001, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act to strengthen the ability of the U.S. government to combat terrorism. Unfortunately, some sections of the Act strike at core values and practices of libraries and archives, especially in the areas of record keeping, privacy, confidentiality, security, and access to the collections. This article…

Elucidates the inherent conflict between national security and public safety measures necessitated by terrorism and the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Briefly discusses the rise in terrorist activity in the 1970s and the development of airline security. Identifies several areas where personal freedom has been…