Terror act has lasting effects

Reported at Wired News: “The Dec. 2005 expiration date embedded in the USA Act — which the Senate approved 98
to 1 on Thursday — applies only to a tiny part of the mammoth bill.

After the president signs the measure on Friday, police will have the permanent ability to conduct
Internet surveillance without a court order in some circumstances, secretly search homes and
offices without notifying the owner, and share confidential grand jury information with the CIA.

Also exempt from the expiration date are investigations underway by Dec. 2005, and any future
investigations of crimes that took place before that date.”