Ways the Government Watches You

Business records.Credit: Dreamstime

Section 215 of the Patriot Act allows the FBI and other federal law-enforcement entities to subpoena a business or person for any "tangible thing" related to an authorized terrorism investigation. The FBI can ask for bank statements, library records, medical records, business papers — any paper trail left by the person or business. Law enforcement does not have to have to show any probable cause to request the information.