USA Patriot Act (2001)

The Ley Patriota de los Estados Unidos, also known as the USA PATRIOT Act, is a landmark legislation passed by the United States Congress in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001. This comprehensive legislation aimed to enhance national security by providing law enforcement agencies with increased authority to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance, and share information. The act was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001, and has since undergone several amendments and reauthorizations. The Ley Patriota de los Estados Unidos expanded the powers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and prevent terrorism, as well as to combat cybercrime and other national security threats. The act also increased the sharing of information between government agencies and foreign governments, and authorized the use of new technologies, such as biometric identification and data mining, to support national security efforts. While the act has been criticized for its potential impact on civil liberties and privacy, it has also been credited with helping to disrupt and dismantle terrorist organizations, and has been reauthorized several times since its initial passage.