ISP Snooping

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<< back to 'Technological Driving Forces for the Future of Privacy'

Description:

Internet Service Provider (ISP) snooping refers to proposed mandatory requirements to retain records of everything citizens do online. Archives of each individual’s online activities would be automatically retained for law enforcement in logs that would span up to two years. Only the oldest records would be purged at the end of the retainment period, while new online activities would continuously build the archives. The proposed requirement, known as data retention, is a controversial measure that opens the door to a host of concerns for ISPs and privacy advocates alike.

Enablers:

Inhibitors:

  • public opposition
  • high costs
  • opposition from ISPs
  • users can encrypt data

Paradigms:

  • Reasons for ISP Snooping are increased security, such as protection versus terrorism and child pornography
  • People feel less safe with their private information stored and easily accessible
  • Comparable with phone line tapping
  • ISPs are required to carry high costs to implement the storing technology

Experts:

Duncan Campbell
a journalist world renowned for his work on the Echelon satellite surveillance network
Wayne Madsen
of the US Electronic Privacy Information Centre
Tony Bunyan
from the UK Statewatch Web site

Timing:

1994
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.
June 2005
Justice Department officials quietly propose data retention rules.
December 2005
European Parliament votes for data retention of up to two years.
April 14, 2006
Data retention proposals surface in Colorado and the U.S. Congress.
April 20, 2006
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says data retention "must be addressed."
April 28, 2006
Democrat proposes data retention amendment, followed by a Republican.
May 26, 2006
Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller pressure Internet and telecom companies.
September 26, 2006
Politicians suggest that Web hosts and registrars might have to comply. Search engines are also mentioned.
January 18, 2007
Gonzales says administration will ask Congress for new laws.
February 6, 2007
Republicans introduce mandatory data retention "Safety Act."

Web Resources: