1. Patricia Williams explains that the “war on terror” is different from past wars because there are no apparent sides or nations involved. Instead, the “war” is the fight against the idea or act of terrorism. This makes it difficult to visualize an end, since defeating the idea as a whole is nearly impossible. This allows the government more freedom to use tools such as surveillance and detention because now the “enemy” is broader. This vagueness creates a constant state of fear in civilians and allows the government to justify actions that wouldn’t be acceptable in a traditional war.
  2. Roving wiretaps allow the government to monitor someone across different phones or devices without naming exactly which ones are being monitored. This seems to violate the Fourth Amendment, which says that searches need to be specific and based on probable cause. The problem is that people who aren’t targeted are now being surveilled too, and there is less oversight. This lowers the standard for privacy protection and makes it easier to monitor people without proper checks in place.
  3. Sneak and Peek warrants allow law enforcement to search a home or property without telling the person right away. This delayed notice could also violate the Fourth Amendment, which is supposed to protect people from secret or unreasonable searches. While it’s meant to help in serious investigations, it also opens the door to abuse. People’s constitutional rights may be violated, and they would only know when it’s too late to challenge it.

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