History
What event was the PATRIOT Act passed in response to?
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001
Can the United States see the records of who you have called on the phone and for how long?
Yes
Do you know if your records are being looked at by the NSA?
No, there is no notification requirement
What is the largest barrier to government surveillance reform?
Education and knowledge of the general public
Which indiviudal was a former CIA analyst and disclosed top secret NSA files that exposed programs such as PRISM, mass data collection, etc.
Edward Snowden
Which government surveillance program allows them to intercept emails, browser history, and even word documents without a formal warrant.
PRISM
What is the biggest danger of giving individuals at the NSA and CIA such abundant surveillance capabilities?
Misuse. With so little oversight and regulation, it can be used inappropriately and make Americans vulnerable.
What does Edward Snowden point to as the first step for reform?
Communication of the technical elements into common language to promote a conversation on how we want our government to run.
When was the USA Patriot Act signed into law by President George W. Bush?
October 26, 2001
What did section 215 of the USA Patriot Act allow?
It allowed for the mass collection of cellphone records from carriers, and further forced universities, internet service providers, and doctors to turn over information on their clients
What differentiates the PATRIOT ACT from criminal investigations?
Surveillance under the PATRIOT Act does not require probable cause or a warrant
What is the NSA's defense of its intelligence capabilities?
They say don't use this against American citizens without "security concerns"
What former AT&T employee leaked knowledge of his company's ability to monitor, capture, and store telecommunications?
Mark Klein
What is a "roving wiretap"?
A "roving wiretap" is a surveillance tap that follows a person and all their devices with the authorization of a FISA warrant
Can your domestic messages end up being collected by the NSA? How?
Yes, a company like google passes data from servers all around the world, and when they leave US borders they are collected
When was the PATRIOT Act last up for reauthorization?
March of 2020
What does the USA PATRIOT stand for?
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act
What capability does section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act create?
It allows for the collection of communication content (text, images, etc.) that are one end foreign
Do you value security and safety, or personal privacy and regulation on government power more?
There is no right answer- and this is the biggest question we currently face
Are you worried about increased government control and surveillance in the digital age?
This is something to think about!