I think there is a misunderstanding of the intent of this provision of the PATRIOT act. It's primary purpose is to serve US based companies by providing cover from shareholder activism and negative press when they are outed for providing such information; and to streamline the process of dealing with such requests because there is little to be gained from resistance through litigation.

In other words, the PATRIOT act provides corporations with the least expensive option for providing user data and provides them with political and legal cover when they do so.