Reference no: EM132884072

Balancing National Security and Civil Liberties

• U.S. policy makers have struggled to strike a balance between national security and civil liberties long before September 11th. However, the tragedy that occurred on 9/11 brought the debate front and center. Prior to 9/11, government agencies accessed individuals' private records. The FBI, citing national security concerns, gained access to private records with a simple letter requesting phone companies or banks for the account information of any suspected individual.
• Since 9/11, the rules regarding accessing information have been further eased with national security at stake. With the implementation of the USA Patriot Act, the U.S. government can now request access to entire databases without explanation. The overriding rationale is to give the government the ability to investigate and search for terrorist suspects and thus prevent future terrorist attacks. Today, national security agencies actively compare the activities of millions with terrorist profiling data from databases in its possession. Supporters of the USA Patriot Act and similar legislation believe that actions are justified to protect the lives of Americans. Critics argue that these actions infringe too much on civil liberties.

Problem 1: How proper balance between security and civil liberties. Include an explanation of what trade-offs might be involved. Justify your position and use specific examples.