Bill proposes ISPs, Wi-Fi Keep Logs for Police

[RoyGBiv]

(cross-posted from GD)

Despite the headline, the language of the bill combined with the legal definition of electronic communications devices using DHCP means if you use a router at home, you get to keep logs too.

And of course, it's all being passed off as a "protect the children" law, which is absolute crap.

Bill proposes ISPs, Wi-Fi keep logs for police
by Declan McCullagh

Republican politicians on Thursday called for a sweeping new federal law that would require all Internet providers and operators of millions of Wi-Fi access points, even hotels, local coffee shops, and home users, to keep records about users for two years to aid police investigations.

The legislation, which echoes a measure proposed by one of their Democratic colleagues three years ago, would impose unprecedented data retention requirements on a broad swath of Internet access providers and is certain to draw fire from businesses and privacy advocates.

"While the Internet has generated many positive changes in the way we communicate and do business, its limitless nature offers anonymity that has opened the door to criminals looking to harm innocent children," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said at a press conference on Thursday. "Keeping our children safe requires cooperation on the local, state, federal, and family level."

...

<The bill's language> sweeps in not just public Wi-Fi access points, but password-protected ones too, and applies to individuals, small businesses, large corporations, libraries, schools, universities, and even government agencies. Voice over IP services may be covered too.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10168114-38.html

[Why Syzygy]

1. Wouldn't the

effort be better placed educating parents? The end user? They could do a "Reefer Madness" type film. :sarcasm:

[hobbit709]

2. It figures, Cornpone would be involved

If it's stupid enough, Cornyn is in the middle of it every time.

They can take this bill, fold it until it is all sharp corners and they know where they can stick it.

[RoyGBiv]

3. He's this term's stooge ...

He doesn't come up for reelection for 6 years, could probably be caught screwing a jackrabbit as long as it was a part of a hunting trip and still get reelected anyway, and has the requisite amount of biltheridiocity to stand behind any old garbage his party wants to scream about. We're gonna see him a lot.

What's troubling is that these bills are basically the same bill some Democrats put forward last session. It didn't go much of anywhere, partly because Republicans can't be seen supporting an idea that doesn't list them as an author, but I'm afraid we may yet see that whole bipartisan thing with this nonsense.

If only Democrats could be bothered to wrap single-payer health care in a "protect the children" argument. But of course that's just silly ... :crazy:

[Deja Q]

4. I thought that was mandatory since 2007?

Well farfegnugen, so much for having all those attempts to illegally download episodes of crap television... :eyes:

:rofl:

[Why Syzygy]

5. aha aha aha

Now we can call bullshit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5107927
"A shocking statistic—teenagers are in more danger from sexual predators at their part time jobs than through the Internet. According to one estimate, 200,000 teenagers are assaulted at the workplace each year. It's a vastly underreported phenomenon, but some brave young women are stepping up publicly to tell their stories.

[RoyGBiv]

6. Yeah ...

There was another study released recently that came to a similar conclusion about something else, the underlying conclusion being that the "Internet predator" thing has been grossly overblown.