The Rowlett Act, also known as the Public Law 114-23 or the USA FREEDOM Act, is a legislative measure passed by the United States Congress in 2015. This act was introduced as a response to the controversial surveillance practices conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA) under the USA PATRIOT Act.

Background
- The USA PATRIOT Act, passed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, granted the government broad surveillance powers to collect intelligence and prevent future attacks.
- However, over the years, concerns were raised regarding the extent of this surveillance and its potential violation of privacy rights.

Key Objectives
The Rowlett Act aimed to address these concerns and strike a balance between national security and civil liberties. Its key objectives include:

1. Reforming the Bulk Collection of Metadata
- The act sought to end the bulk collection of telephone metadata by the NSA, which involved the collection of call records, such as numbers dialed and duration, from millions of Americans.
- Instead, the act required the government to obtain a targeted court order to access specific records from telecommunications companies.

2. Enhanced Transparency and Oversight
- The act introduced provisions to increase transparency and oversight of intelligence activities.
- It required the government to disclose more information about the surveillance programs, including the number of individuals targeted and the impact on privacy rights.

3. Strengthening the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)
- The act aimed to enhance the role of the FISC, which reviews and approves government requests for surveillance warrants.
- It introduced the appointment of a panel of amicus curiae to provide independent perspectives and advocate for privacy and civil liberties during FISC proceedings.

4. National Security Priorities
- The act maintained the focus on national security priorities by ensuring the government's ability to collect intelligence and prevent terrorist activities.
- It aimed to achieve this while respecting privacy rights and implementing necessary safeguards.

Impact and Controversies
The Rowlett Act received mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Supporters argued that it struck a better balance between national security and individual privacy, providing necessary reforms to surveillance practices. Critics, on the other hand, believed that it did not go far enough in curbing government surveillance powers and protecting privacy rights.

Overall, the Rowlett Act represented an attempt to address concerns surrounding surveillance practices in the United States and find a middle ground that upholds national security while safeguarding civil liberties. Its implementation aimed to ensure more transparency, oversight, and accountability in intelligence activities.

The Rowlatt Act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1919 gave the British the right to imprison people without any trial in the court. The Act was named after the Rowlatt Commission who had send the recommendations to the Council. This Act was also known as Black Act or Black Bill as the Indian protesters called it. The Viceroy Government also had the power to silence the press with this new Act which led to a call to revolt in the form of a hartal.