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Simple English definitions for legal terms
National Security Letter
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A quick definition of National Security Letter:
A National Security Letter is a type of order that the government can use to force people or organizations to give them information. These orders don't need a judge's approval and often come with a rule that the person who receives the order can't talk about it. This rule is called a gag order. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uses these letters to help with investigations. However, some people think that these letters are not fair because they don't give people a chance to defend themselves in court. In one court case, a judge said that the gag order and lack of judicial review in these letters broke the First Amendment, which is a part of the US Constitution that protects free speech.
A more thorough explanation:
A National Security Letter is a type of order that the government can use to force people or organizations to give them information. These letters were created by the USA PATRIOT Act, which was a law passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
When the government sends a National Security Letter, they can also include a gag order. This means that the person or organization who receives the letter is not allowed to talk about it with anyone else. The letters do not need to be approved by a judge, and there is only limited review by the courts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used National Security Letters in the past. However, in a court case called Doe v. Mukasey, a court decided that the gag orders and lack of judicial review violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
For example, if the government thinks that a person is involved in terrorism, they might send a National Security Letter to that person's internet service provider (ISP). The letter would order the ISP to give the government information about the person's internet activity. The gag order would prevent the ISP from telling the person that the government had asked for their information.