The Washington Post is reporting that the Bush administration has greatly expanded the use of national security letters to secretly collect personal information about citizens. The Post reports the number of letters sent annually has increased from about 300 to 30,000. The FBI has used national security letters since the 1970s but the Patriot Act of 2001 made it easier for agents to issue the letters. The little-known procedure allows FBI to secretly force businesses to hand over detailed information about individuals even if they have no direct connection to a terrorist investigation. Businesses served letters are barred from disclosing anything about the request including the fact that it was made. According to the Post, such information collected could include where you make and spend money, what you buy online, where you travel, what you search for and read online, and who you call or e-mail at home and at work. The best-known use of national security letters occurred in Las Vegas last year. After learning of an alleged terrorist threat, FBI officials ordered private businesses including casinos to hand over detailed information about every hotel guest in the city, every person who rented a car, every lease on a storage space and every airline passenger who landed in the city.