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Happy Birthday, Patriot Act

The Patriot Act turns 12 today. But what is its role in the era of Edward Snowden and Wikileaks?
/ Source: MSNBC TV

The Patriot Act turns 12 today. But what is its role in the era of Edward Snowden and Wikileaks?

The Patriot Act turns 12 today - but our world's changed a lot since it was introduced. Here's a look back at the biggest moments in the Act's history - and where it's headed from here.

When the Patriot Act was enacted, Wikileaks didn't even exist (and wouldn't for another five years). iPhones - and their culture of easily shared information - were six years away. Facebook and Gmail? Four and three years into the future, respectively. And Edward Snowden was just an 18-year-old college kid.

Our concepts of privacy have changed, hugely, in the past 12 years. So how do we assess the Patriot Act's place in a changed - and still changing - world?