
One significant consequence of the 9/11 attacks was that the U.S. government utilized widespread sorrow and fear to enact stringent legislation limiting American’s privacy. The USA PATRIOT Act, which stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, was passed in October 2001, just over a month after the Twin Towers collapse. This act granted the government broad surveillance powers, allowing agents to intercept emails, phone calls, or monitor credit reports and banking history without a warrant. Essentially, the Patriot Act gave authorities unrestricted access to personal information under the guise of safety, transforming every citizen into a potential subject of investigation. In the years since, Americans have grown accustomed to sacrificing privacy, even voluntarily providing data when using certain technologies and resources.