FBI requests ISP’s keep records of customers’ site visits for 2 years
This last week FBI Director Robert Mueller renewed its call for Internet service providers to record what websites their customers visit, keeping logs for two years. As Mashable reports:
That would mean monitoring the IP addresses, domains and exact websites users visit, and then storing that information for months. If officials who support this measure get their way, federal, state and local law enforcement would be able to access the information via search warrant or subpoena.
The FBI has made these requests previously, and argues that this would be a modernization of previous laws that have required telephone companies to track call information. CNET News details:
As far back as a 2006 speech, Mueller had called for data retention on the part of Internet providers, and emphasized the point two years later when explicitly asking Congress to enact a law making it mandatory. But it had not been clear before that the FBI was asking companies to begin to keep logs of what Web sites are visited, which few if any currently do.
Greg Motta, the chief of the FBI’s digital evidence section, said that the bureau was trying to preserve its existing ability to conduct criminal investigations. Federal regulations in place since at least 1986 require phone companies that offer toll service to “retain for a period of 18 months” records including “the name, address, and telephone number of the caller, telephone number called, date, time and length of the call.”
While this information would only be accessible with legal authorization such as a suppeona or search warrant, advocates for internet privacy have expressed concerns over potential abuse. In addition, achieving compliance would face a number of technical and legal challenges. From CNET News:
“We’re not set up to keep URL information anywhere in the network,” said Drew Arena, Verizon’s vice president and associate general counsel for law enforcement compliance.
And, Arena added, “if you were do to deep packet inspection to see all the URLs, you would arguably violate the Wiretap Act.”
Another industry representative with knowledge of how Internet service providers work was unaware of any company keeping logs of what Web sites its customers visit.
You can read more from Mashable.com and Cnet News.
Hi Joe,
Just visited your website. Thought I heard a knock at the door. Advice?
And pass the cost on to the same customers? Come on Uncle Sam you need to work harder then that how about just using the web cam build into my laptop to spy on us.
Greg Motta, the chief of the FBI’s digital evidence section, said that the bureau was trying to preserve its existing ability to conduct criminal investigations. Federal regulations in place since at least 1986 require phone companies that offer toll service to “retain for a period of 18 months” records including “the name, address, and telephone number of the caller, telephone number called, date, time and length of the call.”
Greg Motta, the chief of the FBI’s digital evidence section, said that the bureau was trying to preserve its existing ability to conduct criminal investigations. Federal regulations in place since at least 1986 require phone companies that offer toll service to “retain for a period of 18 months” records including “the name, address, and telephone number of the caller, telephone number called, date, time and length of the call.”
Greg Motta, the chief of the FBI’s digital evidence section, said that the ”