|
Women's Rights
What's New? - Archive
WomenMatter will continuously post updates on all this and other issues as we monitor the continuing philosophical and practical debates nationwide.
Please check back often for updates. Past updates are available for reference on the Women's Rights Archives page.
Since Women's Rights is in many ways an umbrella issue, WomenMatter will highlight related updates from other Life Issue areas here:
Privacy and Profiling: The Lowdown on Homeland Security
In the aftermath of September 11, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act with overwhelming support.
Many of our leaders say that better intelligence could have prevented the terrorist attacks. The Patriot Act is a response to failed intelligence; it increases the government’s ability to collect information that may (or may not) lead to the capture of terrorists.
New freedoms…for the FBI
The Patriot Act is made up of both temporary and permanent provisions that give the Justice Department and the FBI new freedoms. Some of the temporary provisions allow for the interception of email and phone calls, the seizure of voice mail, and/or physical or electronic surveillance of suspected terrorists.
Do you need privacy?
It goes without saying that an increase in surveillance equals a decrease in privacy. To what extent are you willing to give up your privacy for protection? Although it may be unlikely that you yourself are being watched, do you think it is appropriate for privacy protection to decrease in general?
Is the Patriot Act working?
We do not know if this increased surveillance has resulted in increased protection. The Justice Department won’t tell the public (or even Congress) just how national intelligence has changed.
To protect National Security, the Justice Department feels that information about terrorism prevention must be kept classified. On the other hand, the Justice Department must prove to Congress that the Patriot Act is working, or else the temporary provisions will end in 2005.
Trading one freedom for another
In April 2003, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch proposed to make all Patriot Act provisions permanent, but members from his own party and from the Democratic party are concerned about the broader implications of these provisions. What does it mean when we compromise privacy for safety? Should we limit one freedom to protect another?
Since Congress has so little information about what the administration and the FBI are doing about terrorism, they are wary of extending the temporary provisions of the Patriot Act.
The puzzle of national security
After September 11, Congress decided to grant the administration these new powers, but under the condition that they be evaluated after a few years. Congress must determine whether the temporary provisions, such as access to business records, should be extended or terminated. But how can they do that without more information on the effectiveness of these provisions?
No more racial profiling…most of the time
On June 17, 2003, George Bush banned racial profiling in federal investigations. This is the first time that federal law enforcement has been subjected to the same set of standards on racial profiling.
Simply put, federal agents are not allowed to do it. But there are some EXCEPTIONS. In matters of National Security, racial profiling can be used. Agents may also use racial profiling if the race of the suspect is known. In other words, if a viable witness to a bank robbery were to claim that the thief was white, agents would be allowed to search for white suspects, using race as a guide.
Since racial profiling CAN be used in matters of national security, it seems that Arabs and Arab Americans will continue to be targeted. But the ban may promote fair treatment of other groups, such as blacks and Hispanics, who have been victims of racial profiling for years.
What we sacrifice for national security
Is racial profiling and decreased privacy worth increased security? Do you answer the way that you do because of your race? We should consider all of the implications of the Patriot Act before we decide to make its provisions permanent. Although we want to protect ourselves from the possibility of future terrorist attack, we must also consider the quality of daily life for all Americans.
Article Posted on: 6/19/2003
click here to go to next section
return
to top
|
