Patriot Act eavesdropping causes concern on campus

Around campus and throughout Congress, the Patriot Act continues to spark debate.

Following the attacks of Sept. 11, Congress quickly adopted the act in attempt to stop terrorists in their tracks. The Patriot Act gives law enforcement increased freedom concerning wiretapping and electronic or computer eavesdropping.

But there has been some debate about whether the Patriot Act infringes on civil liberties.

"I would agree the Patriot Act went too far and needs to be corrected," said Peter Swire, a professor in the Moritz College of Law.

Although the Patriot Act's main purpose is to help fight terrorism, it is also being used to eavesdrop on Americans who might be participating in illegal actions.

"I think it is definitely an invasion of privacy, and I do not think they have the right to do it," said Adam Clements, an undecided junior.

On May 5, four OSU students were accused of operating an illegal file-sharing service. As a result, OSU police confiscated the students' computers.

"I am not sure it is a fair thing to do to someone's computer," said Callie Heiser, a sophomore in actuarial science. "I know I would be upset if I knew that someone else is spying on my computer because they then have access to other things besides what they are looking for."

Citizens and politicians who believe this act violates civil liberties have helped spawn a new bill in Congress called the Kucinich-Paul bill. This bill would help regain privacy lost and lessen the amount of leeway investigators were given after Sept. 11.

Despite the uproar over the act, President George W. Bush continues to endorse Patriot II, an act that expands on the first Patriot Act.

As stated in the draft bill of Patriot II, the act would reduce a judge's discretion in granting bail and creating new death penalty eligible offenses. It would also increase the attorney general's subpoena power, which would allow him to unilaterally seize American's private records without judicial oversight.

"I am opposed to these expansions," said Swire, who served as the Clinton administration's chief counselor for privacy from March 1999 to January 2001. "I believe Congress overreacted at the time of the Patriot Act and right now is not the time to expand on it."