[IP] Feds contemplate forcing Internet providers to be Net watchdogs [priv]
Begin forwarded message:
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@xxxxxxxx>
Date: June 16, 2005 10:06:03 AM EDT
To: politech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Politech] Feds contemplate forcing Internet providers to be
Net watchdogs [priv]
http://news.com.com/Your+ISP+as+Net+watchdog/2100-1028_3-5748649.html
Your ISP as Net watchdog
June 16, 2005, 4:00 AM PDT
The U.S. Department of Justice is quietly shopping around the
explosive idea of requiring Internet service providers to retain
records of their customers' online activities.
Data retention rules could permit police to obtain records of e-mail
chatter, Web browsing or chat-room activity months after Internet
providers ordinarily would have deleted the logs--that is, if logs
were ever kept in the first place. No U.S. law currently mandates
that such logs be kept.
In theory, at least, data retention could permit successful criminal
and terrorism prosecutions that otherwise would have failed because
of insufficient evidence. But privacy worries and questions about the
practicality of assembling massive databases of customer behavior
have caused a similar proposal to stall in Europe and could engender
stiff opposition domestically.
In Europe, the Council of Justice and Home Affairs ministers say logs
must be kept for between one and three years. One U.S. industry
representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Justice
Department is interested in at least a two-month requirement.
Justice Department officials endorsed the concept at a private
meeting with Internet service providers and the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, according to interviews with multiple
people who were present. The meeting took place on April 27 at the
Holiday Inn Select in Alexandria, Va.
[...remainder snipped...]
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