The USA Patriot Act

The U.S.A. Patriot Act has given a vast amount of power to law enforcement and international intelligence agencies. Many believe that the Act disturbs the stability that arose from giving the courts the opportunity to ensure that these powers were not abused. Some of the problems related to copyright that could ensue include:

• Accessing student computer files without their permission;
• Reporting on the library books checked out by students and faculty;
• Collecting and analyzing e-mail data from around campus;
• Greater powers of surveillance with limited checks and balances.