Résumé:
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.
