USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001
(Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism)
The USA PATRIOT Act broadly expands law enforcement's surveillance and investigative powers. In particular, the law raises complicated questions with respect to what constitutes a business record and the law's broad definition of computer trespassers. The law also creates a new relationship between domestic criminal investigations related to foreign intelligence.
The new law moved through Congress quickly and as a result lacks an extensive legislative history that can be referenced. ALA and others in the library community will continue to analyze the act, monitor how it is implemented, and what its impact is on libraries and library users.
To provide guidance to libraries ALA provides the following materials to offer guidance and suggestions how libraries should respond if law enforcement "knocks at the door."
http://www.ala.org/Content/Navigatio...efault2437.htm