Final answer:
There are specific laws in the United States that are applicable to e-mail investigations. The USA Patriot Act (option B) has significantly reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' gathering of intelligence within the United States and expanded the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of email investigations in the United States, the USA PATRIOT Act has significantly reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' ability to gather intelligence and expanded the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to regulate financial transactions. Thus (option b) is right answer.
Passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the USA PATRIOT Act allows for enhanced surveillance procedures, such as accessing business records, conducting wiretaps, and surveilling individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities without the same restrictions that were in place prior to its enactment. This broadening of powers has been a subject of contention, as it poses significant implications for privacy and civil liberties.
Other relevant acts include the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to conduct surveillance on foreign soil, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which sets forth provisions for government access to electronic communications. It is important to note that the ongoing debate around these laws focuses on finding the right balance between national security and individual rights as exemplified in landmark cases like Carpenter v. United States.