Speaking from a Jamaican perspective, arising out of the Patriot Act which coincided with the country's Access to Information Act 2002, records management is becoming increasingly mainstream. In fact, some companies that have international parent bodies or those that need to gain international certification or develop trading relations must first improve their records management practices in keeping with international standards as stated by Sarbanes-Oxley and even the Patriot Act.

Interestingly, sixteen of the items listed in the Patriot Act were slated to expire by December 2005. However this has not happened as many of the provisions were renewed by Congress. The debates as to whether or not the Patriot Act is an infringement of civil liberties continue...