More than an intelligence failure, the attacks of September 11 were a communications failure. In several cases because of the existing architecture of law enforcement, what one agency knew about the attackers or their actions was not shared with others. Had law enforcement officials known complete picture, it was thought, they would have been able to prevent the attacks. To that end, President Bush proposed a reforming of the structure of law enforcement, a number of controversial provisions collectively called the USA PATRIOT Act.

On this day, October 26, in 2001, Congress passed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. It struck down a longstanding “wall” between criminal and intelligence-gathering divisions, allowing easier information sharing which have chilled some civil libertarians.

The Patriot Act allowed for — among other things — roving wiretaps with one warrant covering searches of multiple devices, i.e. computers and phone records. Some considered the devices necessary for the digital age while others said it could lead to privacy breaches for those who just casually come into contact with a suspected terrorist. It also allowed for easier access to business records and searches of homes without notifying the residents, which have similarly been criticized for their liability to be abused in investigations of non-terrorists.