Security Versus Privacy:

Abstract

After the 9/11 attacks, the United States government enacted various measures to support national security, with the USA PATRIOT Act standing out as a key federal law. This legislation vastly expanded the government's authority to spy on its own citizens, raising concerns about the erosion of civil liberties, particularly the right to privacy. The expanded powers granted by the act sparked a debate over the delicate balance between security and privacy, prompting a closer examination of its implications on individual freedoms. The USA PATRIOT Act, initially rejected by the Congress and the Bush administration, was later suggested again by George W Bush government. On the other hand, a carefully constructed compromise bill emerged from the Judiciary Committee, which makes this legislative context adds complexity to the examination of the act's impact on civil liberties. This research aims to explore the key provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and examine the intricate balance between national security and individual privacy rights, focusing on the implications of the act on civil liberties. Even though the act expired in 2020, it still has a great impact on the government since some key provisions are still active until today with an unknown future.