Should the patriot act infringe on people freedom of speech

Reference no: EM133413413

Case Study: Criminal Justice

USA PATRIOT Act and Academic Freedom

A University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth senior was visited at his parent's home by federal agents after he requested a copy of The Little Red Book, Mao Tse-Tung's book on communism. The student who requested the book through the university library's inter-library loan was doing a research paper on communism for a class on totalitarianism and fascism. The two agents who came to his home said the book was on a "watch list" and that the student's background, which included "significant time abroad," prompted them to investigate.

His professor told reporters that he suspected more federal agents monitoring student and faculty activities than most people realize. The professor also reconsidered a class he would teach on terrorism because he feared it might put the students at risk. "I shudder to think of all the students I've had monitoring al-Qaeda websites, what the government must think of that," he said. "Mao Tse-Tung is completely harmless."

The USA PATRIOT Act overrides library confidentiality laws. The Department of Homeland Security has the authority to monitor college students' and professors' library borrowing records, Internet records, and e-mails, as well as international travel and phone calls. In addition, librarians are bound by a gag order. Once records are requested, librarians cannot tell the person under investigation.

Several libraries have protested the PATRIOT Act. For example, Santa Cruz, California, librarians shred library records daily. Libraries in some other states are posting warning signs and passing out leaflets. The American Library Association passed a resolution calling sections of the PATRIOT Act a danger to constitutional rights.

Question: Should the PATRIOT Act infringe on people's freedom of speech?

Reference no: EM133413413

Questions Cloud

Define the difference between induction and deduction : Describe, in some detail, the difference between induction and deduction Find an example of a short inductive argument. Briefly state it, say why it is

What do you think is the most interesting : What do you think is the most interesting or useful topic that you explored in Biology 115? Which topic do you wish wasn't included in the course?

Provide attribution for your friend behavior : identify your selected logic. provide attribution for your friend's behavior and briefly [[one to three sentences] explain how the form of logic

Solve the next equation analytically : Solve the next equation analytically. You cannot use any software and algorithm code. 2cos2(3x) - cos2(2x) = sin2(x)

Should the patriot act infringe on people freedom of speech : Should the PATRIOT Act infringe on people's freedom of speech? A University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth senior was visited at his parent's home by federal agent

Write brief monologue exploring that theme from : What struggles or rewards does it offer them? What is their take on it? Write brief monologue exploring that theme from the character's perspective.

Analyse the characteristics of an enabling environment : Analyse the characteristics of an enabling environment that supports inclusion and equality in relation to the title. The title is the early years practitioner

What does each of these chapters say about human nature : What does each of these chapters say about human nature? What aspects of human nature are the basing their arguments on? Do you agree that those are a fixed

Do you think such an action would be morally permitted : Do you think such an action would be morally permitted, morally required, or morally prohibited? Do you think the person performing the action would be morally

User Account

All Pages