• The Patriot Act is a US law that gives law enforcement more power to prevent terrorist attacks.
  • The law, USA PATRIOT, is an acronym for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing the Appropriate Tools Needed to Intercept and Stop Terrorism.”
  • The law requires the financial sector to report suspicious customer behavior in order to prevent money laundering related to terrorism.
  • Proponents of the Patriot Act say it provides law enforcement with the necessary tools to fight terrorism.
  • Critics of the Patriot Act say the law violates constitutional rights to privacy.