The Patriot Act was passed in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. It was designed to enhance the investigative and intelligence-gathering powers of government agencies, especially in the areas of international terrorism and money laundering. The Act allows law enforcement access to business records, internet usage and banking information with fewer restrictions than ever before. It also significantly reduced the law enforcement standard for wiretapping and surveillance, and made it easier for law enforcement to access certain databases.

The Patriot Act also increases the ability of the federal government to temporarily detain non-citizens without formal charges for detention and deportation, monitoring of non-U.S. citizens, and the indefinite detainment of individuals suspected of terrorist activities. The Act also allows surveillance of international telephone and emails, which has raised privacy concerns among civil liberties groups.

defenders of the Patriot Act say that it is a necessary tool for law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorist attacks and to detect and prosecute terrorist activities. Proponents argue that in an age of global terrorism and technological advances that enable individuals to plot, plan, and coordinate attacks from all over the world, the Patriot Act helps protect the safety of U.S. citizens, while also upholding civil rights.

Opponents of the Patriot Act argue that its provisions are far too subjective and have been used to harass and intimidate people who are not connected to terrorism. They also believe the Act is overly broad and violates the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee rights such as freedom of speech and protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Additionally, opponents point out that the Act further reduces the privacy of citizens by requiring the sharing of private information among government agencies.

The Patriot Act has stirred up a great deal of controversy in the United States and abroad. While the government can demonstrate that the Act has had some success in preventing and prosecuting terrorists, the trade off of civil liberties is a concern for many. The debate over the Patriot Act is expected to continue for some time.