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National Security Letter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security_letter

The acronym expansion is to be found right in TFA's title.

Sometimes going right to Google isn't the fastest way.

A dirty, dirty attempt to route around due process, freedom of speech and the fourth amendment.

They were one of the (many) things bush used the 9/11 as an excuse to push through congress.

Please keep the politics off HN. NSLs were around before 9/11. And there's nothing to suggest that any other US President would have a different response. (I agree with your underlying sentiment, but it isn't constructive.)