Book Description

In the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Patriot Reauthorization Act), Congress directed the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector Gen. (OIG) to review "the effectiveness and use, including any improper or illegal use, of national security letters issued by the DOJ." Four federal statutes contain five specific provisions authorizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue national security letters (NSLs) to obtain information from third parties, such as telephone companies, financial institutions, Internet service provides, and consumer credit agencies. In these letters, the FBI can direct third parties to provide customer account information and transactional records, such as telephone toll billing records. This report reviews the FBI's use of NSLs in calendar years 2006. It is a redacted public version of the classified report. Figures and tables. This is a print on demand report.