Congress May Make ISPs Snoop On You

[twin58]

Note that this is not wiretapping. This is a separate issue from the one currently surrounding the NSA.

Or is it?

Rights are like muscles. If you don't exercise them, you will lose them.

Congress may make ISPs snoop on you (http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6072601.html?part=rss&tag=6072601&subj=news)

By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: May 16, 2006, 4:00 AM PDT

A prominent Republican on Capitol Hill has prepared legislation that would rewrite Internet privacy rules by requiring that logs of Americans' online activities be stored, CNET News.com has learned.

The proposal comes just weeks after Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Internet service providers should retain records of user activities for a "reasonable amount of time," a move that represented a dramatic shift in the Bush administration's views on privacy.

Wisconsin Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is proposing that ISPs be required to record information about Americans' online activities so that police can more easily "conduct criminal investigations." Executives at companies that fail to comply would be fined and imprisoned for up to one year.

In addition, Sensenbrenner's legislation--expected to be announced as early as this week--also would create a federal felony targeted at bloggers, search engines, e-mail service providers and many other Web sites. It's aimed at any site that might have "reason to believe" it facilitates access to child pornography--through hyperlinks or a discussion forum, for instance.
....

The drafting of the data-retention proposal comes as Republicans are trying to do more to please their conservative supporters before the November election. One bill announced last week targets MySpace.com and other social networking sites. At a meeting last weekend, social conservatives called on the Bush administration to step up action against pornography, according to a New York Times report (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/15/washington/15dobson.html).
....

Worries for Internet providers
One unusual aspect of Sensenbrenner's legislation--called the Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth Act--or Internet Safety Act--is that it's relatively vague.

Instead of describing exactly what information Internet providers would be required to retain about their users, the Internet Safety Act gives the attorney general broad discretion in drafting regulations. At minimum, the proposal says, user names, physical addresses, Internet Protocol addresses and subscribers' phone numbers must be retained.

That generous wording could permit Gonzales to order Internet providers to retain records of e-mail correspondents, Web pages visited, and even the contents of communications.

"At minimum, the proposal says, user names, physical addresses, Internet Protocol addresses and subscribers' phone numbers must be retained."

Well, there's the database that links phone numbers with names and physical addresses. So much for the argument that the NSA has no way of matching those pieces of information. Of course, the NSA would never be able to access such a database, and I am wrong to think otherwise.

I regret thinking that Fearless Leader has anything other than my best interests at heart.

[RockStar]

Aren't you glad you have a Big Brother?

Potential for really scary stuff, here.

[Mavido]

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/4861/bigbrother1qi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I certianly am glad that our administration read 1984.... however i'm sad that they use it for inspiration.

[enjoi]

No no guys its for your protection (vote republican)!

Love,
Karl Rove

[laxstar4]

thats not good for me

[raykessler]

so.... im thinking of taking my TV apart to look for video camras that might be spying on me, anyone want to join??

[Longpole5435]

thats not good for me
or anyone else

[Buzz1991]

You know if you actually read the constitution you have no right to privacy in any form. And in the circumstance we are in how would you like it if they didn't look at the calls and terrorists are in the US planning another 9/11.

[unta8]

As long as they only look where I've been, I don't care. If theyre using this ONLY for child pornography and not for illegal downloading or gambling procedures I could careless.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

If you guys arent doing anything bad, why are you worried?

[enjoi]

If you guys arent doing anything bad, why are you worried?
As long as they only look where I've been, I don't care. If theyre using this ONLY for child pornography and not for illegal downloading or gambling procedures I could careless.
Because the government will abuse it duh

They're a government. Its the first step twoard the slippery slope.

How about corporate interest, say you're looking for a new job. All your current company has to do to check it out is do a Freedom of Information act and wham! Theres everyone of your sites you've visited in the last month.

How about websites you visit? An active blogger against the current administration?

Your short sightedness worries me and at the same time I'm so glad you can't vote.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

You guys act like things would be so much better if democrats were in control. They would vote the same way.

[enjoi]

You guys act like things would be so much better if democrats were in control. They would vote the same way.
No, thats not it. I don't want any party to pass crap like this. The government does not need to know what websites I visit. Its needless, wastes tax money and is non-effective.

How anyone in the general public actually supports getting their privacy violated by the government of all things is absolutely beyond my scope of understanding. I literally don't get what you are thinking.

I guess thats because you've never had to be afraid of the government spying on its own people. The communist countries weren't so lucky. You're literally giving up your freedoms that previous generations gave blood for. You people make me sick.

[unta8]

Dont get me wrong, I would still vote against it.

[Buzz1991]

Did you guys even look at my above comment NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY. Thos isn't even a big deal and why would the government care what websites you go to unless they are terrorist anti-USA sites.

[enjoi]

Did you guys even look at my above comment NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY. Thos isn't even a big deal and why would the government care what websites you go to unless they are terrorist anti-USA sites.
Persecution of: Religion, Political affiliation, blackmail, etc.

edit - or do I need to make in big bold letters the ways a government can use its powers to terrorize its people?

[Dan]

Government needs to stay away from what sites I visit and all of that. You KNOW they'll use that against us in the future. We all know it. Orrin Hatch sucks. I don't like the democrat running against him, either, so I guess I won't be voting for anybody from Utah for the US Senate. Pretty lame. Would like a solid republican candidate that isn't a dinosaur. Hatch sucks, but I never want gay marriage or abortion passed, so screw me voting for a wishy-washy democrat that doesn't actually have an opinion on gay marriage. That sucks.

[Buzz1991]

Persecution of: Religion, Political affiliation, blackmail, etc.

edit - or do I need to make in big bold letters the ways a government can use its powers to terrorize its people?
Its not like the're stopping yo from doing whatever you do.

[enjoi]

Its not like the're stopping yo from doing whatever you do.
wow.

Please don't vote ever. Seriousley. I hate to think my rights are in the hands of someone who is so willing to part with them.

[BuckWyld]

Did you guys even look at my above comment NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY. Thos isn't even a big deal and why would the government care what websites you go to unless they are terrorist anti-USA sites.

Oh really?

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[RockStar]

To me, the funniest part of this is that many US politicians are willing to keep records of who's visited what website, but they don't have the balls to keep records of who's bought a gun recently.

Now what's a bigger potential danger to the rest of society?

Oh, for Americans interested in private websufing - I suggest arranging for wireless or dial-up account with a Canadian/Mexican/Jamaican/.......whatever ISP.

Stick it to the MAN!

[slinkyspine]

I'd rather be fighting the man, move to canada. We could use your guns.

[enjoi]

I'd rather be fighting the man, move to canada. We could use your guns.
Canada is higher than the U.S. on the quality of life list by 5 places :)
To me, the funniest part of this is that many US politicians are willing to keep records of who's visited what website, but they don't have the balls to keep records of who's bought a gun recently.

Now what's a bigger potential danger to the rest of society?

Oh, for Americans interested in private websufing - I suggest arranging for wireless or dial-up account with a Canadian/Mexican/Jamaican/.......whatever ISP.

Stick it to the MAN!
I'm going to go Darknet as soon as a viable option is available :)

[JoshM]

In somewhat related news: http://news.com.com/Net+neutrality+field+in+Congress+gets+crowded/2100-1028_3-6074564.html?tag=nefd.top

[RockStar]

Canada is higher than the U.S. on the quality of life list by 5 places....

Depends how much money you make. For average slob to upper middle class, you're probably right.

The ultra rich are probably still better off if they live in USA.

[twin58]

The Snooping Goes Beyond Phone Calls (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_22/b3986068.htm)

Yes, Business Week.

How the government sidesteps the Privacy Act by purchasing commercial data

....
The Departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security spend millions annually to buy commercial databases that track Americans' finances, phone numbers, and biographical information, according to a report last month by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. Often, the agencies and their contractors don't ensure the data's accuracy, the GAO found.

Buying commercially collected data allows the government to dodge certain privacy rules. The Privacy Act of 1974 restricts how federal agencies may use such information and requires disclosure of what the government is doing with it. But the law applies only when the government is doing the data collecting.

"Grabbing data wholesale from the private sector is the way agencies are getting around the requirements of the Privacy Act and the Fourth Amendment," says Jim Harper, director of information policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington and a member of the Homeland Security Dept.'s Data Privacy & Integrity Advisory Committee.

Every denial issued by the government is exceptionally carefully worded. You have to read between the lines.

[ColtsLax]

Oh really?

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
all that says is that the cops can't just arrest your without a warrent and start looking for evidance that you commited a crime without a good reason. its part of the right to a fair trial. At no point does it mention ones privacy, i has to do with legal proceedings.

the internet is a public domain. just like i can walk into the county courthouse and find your house deed, how much you paid for the house, hoe much your mortgae payment is, and previous land you may have owned, if you owe child support and were late in paying, if you were late in paying bills. Thats all a matter of public record. Mortgages, deeds, judgements, marriage certificates, all accesable in your local town hall.

When you plug that ethernt cable in, you are opening yourself to the world. anyone can see yor IP address, and a little legwork gets you more. There is no such thing as internet privacy.

[enjoi]

When you plug that ethernt cable in, you are opening yourself to the world. anyone can see yor IP address, and a little legwork gets you more. There is no such thing as internet privacy.
That will soon change if Freenet becomes more developed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freenet/).

[Frndlefire]

May Sensenbrenner find his head in a burlap sack confront with a recently castrated badger... every time I hear his name in the news it makes me sad he's from wisconsin.


...and it's small steps children. Each nibble may not be much but eventually the loaf will be a lot smaller than it used to be