Introduction The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, USA Patriot Act, Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act and other laws lay out procedures that the U.S. government must follow to conduct electronic surveillance. In addition, it has recently been disclosed that, in violation of FISA and the US Constitution, the NSA maintains a database of all calls within US borders and international calls where one party is in the United States. Our project will focus on the ethical implications of the government's use of massive surveillance on the US population. The questions that surround this debate are as old as the Magna Carta and as relevant as the fight against global terrorism: What are the ethics of warrantless search? Should liberty ever be sacrificed for national security? How should companies respond to illegal government requests? How does this surveillance fit in with legal precedent within the US and how does it compare to the actions of other nations?

