FISA 101: 10 key dates in the evolution of NSA surveillance

3. Patriot Act, 2001

Andy Nelson/The Christian Science Monitor
President George W. Bush is surrounded by lawmakers as he signs the Patriot Act Anti-Terrorism Bill on October 26, 2001 in Washington, DC.

On October 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act into law, widening the federal government’s surveillance powers. The Patriot Act authorizes the government to search third-party records without notice of the user and does not require the federal government to notify individuals if they have been searched, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union.

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