The PATRIOT Act of 2001 came under criticism for a number of reasons. There are fears
that the act is an invasion of privacy and infringement on freedom of speech. Critics also feel
that the act unfairly expands the powers of the executive branch and strips away many crucial
checks and balances.
The original act had a sunset clause that would have caused many of the law’s provisions to
expire in 2005. The act was reauthorized in early 2006 with some new safeguards and with
expiration dates for its two most controversial powers, which authorize roving wiretaps and
secret searches of records.