Internet Surveillance Providers

INTERNET SURVEILLANCE PROVIDERS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The Bush Administration has opened talks with leading Internet providers and search engines about preserving their records. The Justice Department apparently wants Internet companies to keep two years' worth of data on where users go, what they search for and to whom they send e-mail. The ostensible purpose is to combat child pornography and terrorism. That's a laudable goal. It's not at all clear, however, that this plan would put more bad guys behind bars. It's more likely that the new troves of data would attract hackers or trial lawyers. But before Internet companies or lawmakers agree to this plan, the Justice Department should have to show that the change is needed to put more child pornographers and terrorists behind bars. How many cases, if any, have foundered because investigators had access to only a few months' worth of data rather than two years' worth? The benefits of the new approach may be questionable, but the risks are not.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-isp05jun05,1,479731.story?coll=la-news-comment
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