Even before President of the United States George W. Bush signed the anti-terrorism Patriot Act of 2001 on Oct. 26, 2001, civil liberties advocacy groups had criticized it as allowing unreasonable and excessive and unchecked expansions of police powers including search and personal surveillance limits.

In less-well publicized amendments, Congress added language to the Patriot Act very broadly, perhaps vaguely, defining terrorism and terrorists, and who the Justice Department and Secretary of State can designate as eligible for investigation and close personal surveillance according to provisions of the Patriot Act.