1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

Follow Yahoo News

Home

Mail

Search

News

Sports

Finance

Weather

Games

Search News

News Home
U.S.
World
Politics
Tech
Science

Answers

Screen

FlickrUpgrade
Mobile
to the new
More
Firefox

Sign In

Search Web

Mail

Patriot Act's unintended

consequences in post9/11 world

Health
Odd News

By Ivan Couronne
January 12, 2015 3:39 PM

Local
Dear Abby
Comics
ABC News

What to read next

Yahoo Originals
Photos

Golden Globes 2015: Red Carpet Arrivals

Washington (AFP) - Forty-five days after 2001's 9/11 attacks,

president George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Act, but
Americans only learned of the anti-terrorism law's full
consequences 12 years later through Edward Snowden's

Obama says hacks show need for

cybersecurity law
AFP

surveillance revelations.
The law triggered unprecedented expansion of electronic and
telephone surveillance powers -- an intelligence dragnet that
today is under intense dispute, as Western nations including
France contemplate how to improve security in the wake of
deadly attacks in Paris.
The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing

Cadillac unfurls most powerful car in its

history
AFP

Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism

Act is the official name of the law adopted over a three-day
period by Congress in 2001 after the devastation of September
11.
- Sweeping law, rushed debate The law was crafted to facilitate eavesdropping and other

A 12-Year-Old Wrote a Letter to Each NFL

Team And Only This One Responded

surveillance of terror suspects, including through the Internet.

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

1/7

1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

But it also included nine other chapters, that expanded the

period of detention without charge to seven days for a foreigner
suspected of terror-related activities; improved information
sharing among US intelligence agencies; strengthened border
protection; and clamped down on terrorism financing networks.
Congressional debate was hurried, and many lawmakers
acknowledged they did not read the text. The House of

Little recourse seen for Democrats on Social

Security rule change
Reuters

Representatives voted 357 for and 66 against the law, while the
Senate approved it 98-1, overwhelming bicameral support.
Congress set some of the measures to expire four years later.
Bush at the time called the law "essential not only to pursuing
and punishing terrorists, but also preventing more atrocities in
the hands of the evil ones."

Canine Commuter Raises Eyebrows on

Seattle Bus

While most of its provisions have been made permanent, the

law is ripe for revision.
The stilltemporary
Delta Flight Delay Causes Plane to Take Off
With Just 2 Passengers

"Section 215,"
used by the
National Security
Agency to
dramatically
expand its
surveillance
programs,

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R) in Washington, DC, on July 17,

2013 (AFP Photo/Win Mcnamee)

including in the

Huckabee slams Obama for letting

daughters listen to Beyonc

United States, is due to expire in June.

Associated Press

- Secret surveillance While Congress passed the Patriot Act, President Bush
launched a secret program allowing intelligence agencies to
conduct wiretapping and internet monitoring of
communications without a court order, as a means of thwarting
plots on US soil.

No Pants Subway Ride

The New York Times revealed the existence of the program in

2005, shocking many Americans. But the surveillance continued
after 2006 in a different guise -- under the framework of the
Patriot Act and the supervision of the secretive Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Court.
It is this famous "Section 215" which has became the legal

The San Francisco Startup That Wouldn't

Bite on $30M 'Shark Tank' Tease

justification for the NSA's bulk collection of US telephone

"metadata" -- number called, duration, time, but not recordings
of conversations.
In June 2013, Snowden revealed the extent of the metadata
program to the world. Several US lawmakers had been briefed
on the secret operations, but many expressed outrage.

Feds: Bartender threatened to kill Boehner

"I authored the Patriot Act, and this is an abuse of that law,"
http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

2/7

1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

fumed House Republican Jim Sensenbrenner.

The administrations of Bush and then President Barack Obama
betrayed the intent of the Patriot Act, Sensenbrenner said, by
using it as legal justification for the blanket surveillance.

Tsarnaev trial delay sought over Paris attack

- Congressional oversight Under pressure from the American public, Obama backed
reforms that would amend the Patriot Act.
But a bid by House lawmakers to curb NSA bulk data collection
was blocked in the Senate last November, setting up a

Slain Hebdo editor's 'girlfriend' to skip

funeral

showdown over the issue before Section 215 sunsets in June.

According to William Bendix, professor at Keene State College
and a Patriot Act specialist, the best way to prevent future
abuse is to strengthen congressional oversight powers.
"Passing laws no matter how carefully they're written can
always lead to aggressive surveillance if the legislators do not

2 Albuquerque officers charged with murder

monitor the intelligence agencies," Bendix told AFP.

"Congress has often passed relatively modest surveillance
laws," and it is often due to "presidential directives or executive
orders that intelligence agencies have far exceeded the laws
drafted by Congress."
Islamic State releases shocking new video
Bendix added that French legislators, reeling from the worst
attacks in years in the European nation, are faced now with the
"very difficult challenge" of drafting surveillance measures that
enhance security but also "empower themselves to conduct
meaningful oversight."
Related video:

Muhammad on cover of new Charlie Hebdo

issue

Police officer breaks down after fatal

shooting

Photos of the day - January 13, 2015

Yahoo News

View Comments (3168)

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

3/7

1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

Recommended for You

Jon Stewart blasts Obama
administration over Paris absence

Funeral ceremonies for the victims of the

Charlie Hebdo Paris attack
Yahoo News

The "Daily Show" host joined critics blasting the

Obama administration for not having a larger
presence
Yahoo
Newsat Sunday's massive unity rally in Paris.

Kremlin: Poland failed to invite Putin

to Auschwitz event
MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin
will not travel to a ceremony in Poland marking the
70th anniversary
Associated
Press of the liberation of the Nazi
Auschwitz death camp, the Kremlin said Tuesday, a
decision
that reflects
a chill
in Russian ties with the
Supreme Court
claries
rules for
rescinding
West.

Police deploy pepper spray, gas to disperse

Ohio football fans
Yahoo News

mortgages

WASHINGTON (AP) A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Tuesday

that homePress
Associated
buyers don't need to file a lawsuit, but may simply write a
letter if they want to back out of a mortgage because they claim their
lender
violated
the federal
Truth
in Lending Act. law
Obama
renews
push for
cybersecurity
Speaking at a White House meeting with congressional leaders, US
President Barack Obama makes a renewed push for cybersecurity
legislation.
AFP
Videos Duration: 00:47

North Korea oers direct talks with

US

Jerusalem funerals for four killed in Paris

attack
Yahoo News

North Korea on Tuesday offered to hold direct talks

with the United States on its proposal to suspend
nuclear
tests,
AFP
43 mins
agoand suggested dialogue could pave
the way to changes on the Korean peninsula. The
State Department has rejected Pyongyang's
hasUS
30,
Rockets
offer to suspend nuclear tests in exchange for a

Harden
rout Nets after HowardGarnett ght

NEW YORK (AP) Dwight

Howard's face might have been
stinging from Kevin Garnett rammi
Associated
Press
his head into
it, and now his ears
were ringing as fans directed loud
boos toward him.

One killed in Washington, DC Metro fire

Yahoo News

Russia to step up combat capabilities in Crimea

By Timothy Heritage MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's top general said
on Tuesday he would beef up combat capabilities this year in
Crimea, the Arctic and the country's westernmost Kaliningrad region
Reuters
that borders two NATO states. The remarks by General Valery
Gerasimov, chiefWonder
of the General
Staff: of
the
Woman
Learning
to Love

the Comic Behind the Icon

Organic: Farmers & Chefs of the Hudson

Valley
Yahoo News

Everybody knows about Wonder Woman, but not

many people know about Wonder Woman.
The Atlantic

Montana police
ocer breaks down
after fatally shooting
unarmed man
In the footage, Billings Police
Officer Grant Morrison can be
seen sobbing on the hood of a
Yahoo
policeNews
cruiser after shooting 38year-old Richard Ramirez three
times during a traffic
stop. House will fund Homeland
Boehner:

Photos of the day - January 12, 2015

Yahoo News

Security, block Obama on

immigration

By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The

U.S. House of Representatives will vote to fully fund
Reuters
the Department of Homeland Security this week
while
blocking
President
Barack
Obama's
actions
Eleven
Ukraine
civilians
killed
when
on immigration,
House Speaker John Boehner said
rocket
hits bus
on Tuesday. The $39.7 billion spending bill was
Eleven Ukrainian civilians were killed and nearly 20
expected to
injured on Tuesday when a long-range Grad rocket
apparently
AFP
31 minsfired
ago by pro-Russian insurgents hit an

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

Five years after Haiti's devastating

earthquake
Yahoo News

4/7

1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

Green to Grizzlies in
three-team trade
Jeff Green and Russ Smith are
headed to the Memphis Grizzlies
in a three-team NBA trade that
AFP
was in the works for days before
it was confirmed on Monday.
Memphis acquired forward
Green from the Boston Celtics
and guard Smith from the New
back bill to ease hiring of
Orleans PelicansSenators
in the swap,
while the Celticsforeign
pick uphigh-tech workers
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican and
Democratic senators introduced legislation on
Tuesday that would make it easier for high-tech
Reuters
firms in the United States to hire more foreign
specialists
in science,
North Korea
againtechnology
urges USand
to engineering.
A
bill by Senate
Finance
Committee Chairman Orrin
suspend
military
exercises
Hatch of Utah,
UNITED NATIONS (AP) North Korea said Tuesday
that "many things will be possible this year on the
Korean peninsula"
if theago
United States agrees to
Associated
Press 58 mins
suspend its annual military exercises with South
Korea
for Pyongyang's
suspension
of
Eortintoexchange
draft Warren
into 2016
race
nuclear tests.

Pulitzer Prize winning coverage of the 2010

Earthquake in Haiti
Yahoo News

France deploys 10,000 troops

Yahoo News

heads to New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Progressive activists

hoping to draft Sen. Elizabeth Warren into the 2016
presidential
race will hold their first meeting in the
Associated
Press
key early-voting state of New Hampshire on
Saturday.
Funeral ceremonies for the victims

Sen. Marco Rubio issues terror warning: Not

if, but when
Katie Couric News Video

of the Charlie Hebdo Paris attack

View

A national tribute was given at the Paris Prefecture

for the three police officers killed during last week's
attacks
Yahoo
News
by Islamic militants, January 13, 2015,
ahead of the funeral for Ahmed Merabet in Borbigny,
France. Multiple
The three police
officers were killed in the
Mitt's
Personalities
attacks at the offices of satirical
The 2012 election seems so long ago, doesn't it?
Michele Bachmann's autism theories, weekly Biden
gaffes, Nine-nine-nine ... it's all so hazy. You
probably
The
Atlanticcan't even remember what it was that Mitt
Romney wanted to do if he became president.

Kerry arrives in Geneva for new Iran

talks

Congressional Leaders Head to White

House for Sit Down
Bloomberg Video

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Geneva

Tuesday to meet his Iranian counterpart as global
powers seek to accelerate talks to reach a deal on
AFP
reining in Iran's nuclear programme. Iranian Foreign
Minister
Javad Zarifto
suggested
ObamaMohammad
asks Republicans
work Monday
that a more active role for Russia could be one

as team but dierences emerge

By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday sought to
develop a better working relationship for the year
Reuters
with leaders of the new Republican-led Congress
but partisan
immediately
reared their
Bear's bad year?
Russiadifferences
faces grim
economic
head. Obama, who has been criticized by both
outlook in 2015
Republicans and
For the past two weeks in Russia, the country has been a period of
virtual winter
Christian
Science
hibernation,
Monitor
where all but the most basic services are
shut down. The extended, official New Year holiday has put most
everything in Russia on hold including its response to the
economic turmoil of recent months,

Homeland Security steps up presence after

ISIS threats
WCVB - Boston

Wanted: Paris gunman's girlfriend believed

to be in Syria
CBSTV Videos

President Obama skips Paris march, but

hosts NBA champions?
Fox Business Videos

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

5/7

1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

Fox Business Videos

Patrols in Paris
ABC News Videos

Mitt Romney considers third Presidential bid

Fox Business Videos

President Jimmy Carter defends Obama

over missing Paris rally
Katie Couric News Video

Passenger dies, 80 hospitalized in D.C.

subway incident
CBSTV Videos

Job openings rise to 2.9 percent

CBSTV Videos

Find Your Fortune!

Sponsored Williams Interactive

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

6/7

1/14/2015

Patriot Act's unintended consequences in post-9/11 world - Yahoo News

2015 AFP

Yahoo - ABC News Network

Help / Suggestions Privacy About Our Ads

http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-acts-unintended-consequences-post-9-11-world-203913740.html

Terms

7/7