U.S. asks Internet Firms to Save Data

US ASKS INTERNET FIRMS TO SAVE DATA
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Jon Swartz and Kevin Johnson]
Top law enforcement officials have asked leading Internet companies to keep histories of the activities of Web users for up to two years to assist in criminal investigations of child pornography and terrorism, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller outlined their request to executives from Google, Microsoft, AOL, Comcast, Verizon and others Friday in a private meeting at the Justice Department. The department has scheduled more discussions as early as Friday. Justice is not asking the companies to keep the content of e-mails, spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said. It wants records such as lists of e-mail traffic and Web searches, he said. Roehrkasse said the government is required to seek proper legal authority, such as a subpoena, before obtaining the records. He said any change in the retention period would not alter that requirement. Law enforcement officials have seen investigations derailed “time and time again” because of a lack of data, Roehrkasse said. The government's request forces the companies to strike a balance between satisfying law enforcement demands and honoring the privacy of millions of customers.
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