i wonder if this this state of affairs is the result of the patriot act [1]; or did they have similar regulations in the US before that event? [1] https://en.w

i wonder if this this state of affairs is the result of the patriot act [1]; or did they have similar regulations in the US before that event? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act,_Title_II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act,_Title_II