AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
An audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine has found that federal authorities have been abusing provisions of the Patriot Act in order "to secretly obtain personal information about people in the United States," according to the Associated Press. The abuses come through the use of National Security Letters, a form of administrative subpoena that allow the FBI to force businesses--including Internet service providers, telephone companies, and banks--to turn over customer records. Since the passage of the Patriot Act after 9/11, use of the letters has skyrocketed. According to the Associated Press, "In 2000 ... the FBI issued an estimated 8,500 letters. ...