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Patriot Act Provision Lets the Federal Government Grab Personal Records Secretly

The "national security letter" provision of the Patriot Act goes too far in letting the government secretly gather confidential records and gagging those ordered to turn them over, the American Civil Liberties Union said in testimony before a key panel of lawmakers Thursday.

"This provision lets the government force businesses to turn over confidential records in ‘national security investigations,’ even if the investigation isn’t linked to criminal activity," said Gregory T. Nojeim, Acting Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, who appeared before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. "Those served with these secret order are gagged from telling anyone about it. Lawmakers need to make sure these letters aren’t used to gather information about lawful political or religious activities that are protected under the Constitution."

Full Story: http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/94134

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