FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited
Summary
The FBI is pressing Internet service providers to record which Web sites customers visit and retain those logs for two years.
Topics
The FBI is pressing Internet service providers to record which Web sites customers visit and retain those logs for two years, a requirement that law enforcement believes could help it in investigations of child pornography and other serious crimes.
FBI Director Robert Mueller supports storing Internet users' "origin and destination information," a bureau attorney said at a federal task force meeting on Thursday.
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.
The FBI is not alone in renewing its push for data retention. A CNET News survey of state computer crime investigators found them to be nearly unanimous in supporting the idea. Matt Dunn, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in the Department of Homeland Security, also expressed support for the idea during the task force meeting.
For more of this story, read FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 60 Talkback(s)
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So the story goes...
the right to privacy is lost in the name of justice.
Axsimulate02/05/2010 01:06 PM -
God damned facists
I am sick of hearing everyday it seems that some big brother piece of crap wants to control us monkeys more and more. Keep the f*** out of my business. Now, you want to catch kiddie predators, that's great but everyone also needs to quit using kids as a fear tactic to do all sorts of privacy invading s***. I've had it with Big Brother and we need to rise up and take the country back. Suck on that Federal Bureau of Intimidation if you're reading this. Up yours!
fuguein_d@...02/06/2010 10:36 AM -
questionable legality
This seems to be of questionable legality to me. If they are going to skirt around if not violate the constitution why don't they just block questionable sights like china does? If the companies don't do it "voluntarily" and the FBI forces the issue I imagine the supreme court would kick this one.
jeffk46402/06/2010 04:19 PM -
The FBI is the least of our worries
What a joke to make such a fuss over the FBI when Google is storing much more information about more people all over the world. Nobody is as dangerous as Google.
jorjitop02/06/2010 06:48 PM -
RE: FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited
Big Brother is watching.
fhinton02/05/2010 01:13 PM -
RE: FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited
Why not log every place I drive to, as well? That would
probably allow for lots of criminals to be caught.
No thank you.
I don't trust law enforcement nearly enough for that...no
matter who is in power in the WH or Congress to do the
oversight.
CobaltDragon02/05/2010 01:18 PM -
Doh! They are.
Called "traffic cameras" and rfid EZ-Tags
wkulecz02/05/2010 01:49 PM -
gps
The new one is requiring a government issued gps device in our cars so the government can tax us by the mile as well as by the gallon. Could this be abused by government, I think so.jeffk46402/06/2010 04:24 PM -
RE: FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited
Are we still better off than the citizens of China as far as government snooping is concerned? Our freedoms are disappearing rapidly.
Child porn is an abomination and can not be tolerated, but does everyone notice that they use child porn or terrorism to justify most of their drives to reduce our freedoms?
gertruded02/05/2010 01:25 PM -
Yep....
Everyone has figured out that you can make big
power grabs by simply yelling "terror". Now in
order to protect freedom we have to give it up.
storm14k02/05/2010 01:41 PM -
Both points.....
So true. We are no better off than China anymore. Its safe to say the founders of this nation are rolling in their graves. Both sides have stuck it to us hard, its so hard to go back which scares me.
OhTheHumanity02/05/2010 02:39 PM -
Exactly right
This erosion of our freedoms is a matter that both true liberals and traditional conservatives can unite on. Both Bush and Obama have a poisonous attitude toward our Bill of Rights and our inferred right to privacy. So of course Obama must go when his term ends. In the meantime, tune into the doings of your legislators. Make sure your vote goes to the candidate who is the lesser power freak.
I believe the U.S. already has moved into the police state category. It will take some heavy moving to undo that damage, but each of us has to try. For a while our people were willing to trade their freedoms for security. Now, of course, we are left with neither.
If in doubt as to how to vote, you can't go far wrong by casting your vote against an incumbent. Good luck America.
nikacat02/05/2010 03:23 PM -
re: RE: FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited
does everyone notice that they use child porn or terrorism to justify most of their drives to reduce our freedoms?
Yes, and you know what else? The patriot act is being used nearly exclusively against non-terrorist offenders. They always appeal to our fear/hate of terrorists and child pornographers to get these laws passed, then they use them on all of us.
Sure, it will help find pornographers. It will help find tax cheats, copyright infringers, online gamblers and unlicensed hairdressers. And it will be used for that, too, right out of the gate.
none none02/05/2010 08:15 PM -
laws that make companies richer
Its especially suspicious when the new law helps a company that contributed to some politicians campain make more moneyjeffk46402/06/2010 04:25 PM -
I won't trust obama and the liberals
they are always after your money and vices.
Linux Geek02/05/2010 01:30 PM
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