New legislation proposed by two Republican legislators would force Internet service providers (ISPs) and WiFi hotspot owners to maintain user data and logs for up to two years. These requirements are supposedly needed so that law enforcement agencies will be better suited to fight child pornography and other illegal activities taking place on the Internet.
Even though this legislation is supposedly targetted at child safety, there are others who want to see it pass due to their own agendas.
Copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) would benefit as ISPs would have to maintain IP address data and logging that could help identify suspected file sharers.
Copyright holders in the United States and abroad have long petitioned for the ability to better protect their content by having ISPs retain information longer. Not surprisingly, there has been an uproar among privacy experts and many Internet users, as they believe this is too much information and power in the wrong hands.
The Internet Safety Act will "create new risk" for Internet users while opening the door to "possible liability in civil suits and subpoena fishing expeditions -- it's a terrible idea," according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Although it's commendable that there is a growing interest in protecting children online, privacy experts recommend politicians consider closing loopholes in the legislation that would allow for abuses that will most certainly occur.
