There are strong arguments for and against the new law. The American law enforcement agencies are still behind their European counterparts when it comes to the scope of eavesdropping authority. It is much easier for British, French, or Polish police forces to place surveillance on persons suspected of terrorist activities. On one hand, then, widening the U.S. enforcement agencies' abilities to conduct anti-terrorist activities is nothing new for us Europeans.
On the other hand, though, it's discouraging to see the U.S. government cutting civil rights of U.S. and non-U.S. residents. The United States should be a shining example to the world of a country that treats its citizens' and residents' rights as the most important cornerstone of civil society.
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