The Patriot Act

Security and Freedom Ensured Act
After the attacks of September 11th the Patriot Act was put into place to help keep Americans safe. The Security and Freedom Ensured Act (SAFE) was later added as a provision to the Patrio Act. It was introduced into the House on April 6, 2005 as a way to add a checks and balance system to the Patriot Act. It revised the word "terrorist" to exclude groups of people such as anti-war protestors and pro and anti-abortion protestors. Also under SAFE provisions were made concerning wiretaps: (1) an order approving an electronic surveillance specify either the identity of the target or the place to be wiretapped; and (2) surveillance be conducted only when the suspect is present at the place to be wiretapped. Provisions are also to be made concerning search warrants include: (1) limit the authority to delay notice of the issuance of such a search warrant to circumstances where providing immediate notice of the warrant will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual, result in flight from prosecution or the intimidation of a potential witness, or result in the destruction of or tampering with the evidence sought under the warrant; and (2) require such delayed notification to be issued within seven days (currently, within a "reasonable period") after execution, with extensions by the court for additional periods of up to 21 calendar days each time that the court finds reasonable cause to believe that notice of the execution of the warrant would have such consequences. Requires the Attorney General, on a semiannual basis, to transmit to Congress and make public a report concerning all requests for delays of notice and for extensions of such delays.

New Technologies
To help ensure the safety of Americans from terrorism there were several technologies developed and put into place.

Wiretapping
Wiretapping is one of the biggest technologies the government uses to help fight terrorism today. By definition wiretapping is, eavesdropping on private conversations by connecting listening equipment to a telephone line. To be legal, wire tapping must be authorized by a search warrant or court order.

Sensor Technology
Sensor technology is being used to help fight biological, chemical, and radiological attacks. More and more technologies are being developed to sensor chemicals and biological weapons. Cargo container x-ray machines are also in the process of being developed to check for any type of threat that may be hidden in the large crate being brought into the country thorough our ports.

Biometric Tools
New biometric tools are being invented to help controll access to buildings and offices. One of these tools include fingerprint technology which scans the fingerprints of the persons trying to access the restricted area. Under fingerprinting technology is being developed to indentify human skin as well to help prevent terrorist from makeing fake fingerprints from other materials.

Weapon and Explosive Screening
Technology that blows puffs of air are now used to help find weapons and explosives that people may be carrying. The scanners then read the particles in the air looking for traces of explosives. Some of these new technologies are already in place in many airports across the world.

Closed Circuit Television
Closed circuit televison as been used for a long time to help fight terroism but it has been proven that there are many faults in this. Today there are new closed circuit televisions that watch itself. This helps to cut down on human mistakes. For example if a camera on this new system detects someone climbing over a fence, an alarm will sound alerting the person watching the secruity system.