It also amends a wide variety of other laws, including the following:

As this list shows, the law reaches into computer law, search and seizure law, the law regulating financial transactions and reporting, and immigration law. Some commentators have argued that the law is too sweeping and lacks the checks and balances and other safeguards that are a traditional part of our system of criminal law. Others have pointed out that the act includes judicial safeguards in several areas (meaning that a judge has to approve certain activities), and that many of the wiretapping and foreign intelligence amendments are to go out of existence on December 31, 2005, unless Congress extends them. Also, Congress has considered bills to modify some of the act's more controversial provisions.