Comments on: Gonzales: ISPs must keep records on users

Attorney general, other witnesses ask Congress to force Internet service providers to follow customers' activities.

[fred dunn]

Remember hearing about communist rule???

I just ask that because if you are old enough to remember the cold war then you will remember that the US Government used to highlight our freedoms and rights over the communist countries.
Being old enough to remember that and going through the civil rights era it seems that all of those points of privilege that the US Government used to point out are slowly (if not already) disappearing and we are becoming what we used to ridicule.
What difference is there NOW between the old Soviet KGB and the US Government's "intelligence" (Oxymoronic) agencies? Absolutely none.
We used to tout that democracy held that the citizens freely elect their representatives, I am starting to doubt that as well particularly with the out-dated electoral college making my vote not count. The electoral college may have been useful in the days that communications were at best bt telegraph but in the day when EVERY vote can be counted I don't want someone else interpreting my vote.
As far as Attorney General Gonzalez is concerned he is just a "yes man" to King George 'W'.
It's ironic that we fought for independence from England during the rule of King George and now we have another King George trying his best to reverse all of those gains.

[~Neo~]

Just Another Ploy To Take Away Any & All PRIVACY!

Wow who would have thought that we would be here in 2006 after Sept 11,2001 that the governement would be given carte blanche to do whatever and wherever they wanted in the name of national security. If you ask me this is just yet another ploy for them to do as they always have "Whatever they want" We are sleeping sheep and we have to wake up. I am a father of two kids and I make sure I keep track of what my kids do online.

Man I can't believe that this is the USA I fought for.

~Ex NAVY Gulf War I~

[~Neo~]

Ooops Did I Say National Security

Ohh did I say Nationalized security LOL. Thats right it's about protecting our kids yea yea thats the ticket. Guess I will let them cause it's for George's kids right?

This is sad... Wake up parents and DO your jobs damn it! Police your own kids and stop using the computer as a babysitter just like my parents used the TV when I was a kid

[Heebee Jeebies]

I think it's funny that...

These near death old coots actually think kids accidentally stumble across porn. Were is their head, kids go search this stuff out. These laws aren't going to do anything except ending up costing ISP's and customers more money.

Politician's are like diapers and they need to be changed for the same reason.

Robert

[dreammakerinmia]

Who will protect the ISPs data

One of my biggest concerns about the proposed bill is what just happened about a month and a half ago with AOL (see article http://news.com.com/AOLs+disturbing+glimpse+into+users+lives/2100-1030_3-6103098.html) will start happening a lot more. This will lead to a major problem with allowing identity thieves delve into our lives even more so, there by helping their illegal activates. It could also cause tons of problems for any body that has a job that requires moral conduct. Why should someone have to worry about loosing their job because someone objects to what they do in the privacy of their own home, or things that they have done in their past that are not illegal. (See a local news article: http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/helpmehoward/MI24468/) Is the federal government going to help these data providers protect this data, and give either tax breaks/incentives to help increase the storage capacity, and security infrastructures of these companies? No matter what the US Tax payers will be paying for these upgrades anyways.

[fetaillon]

To: His Majesty, King George

Water Boarding for everbody can't be to far off in the name of "National Security" in order to protect our children! Ever hear of Parental Control Mr. Attorney General?

[FooKBush]

Ben Franklin Said it then and....

it still hold true today!
"The country that gives up freedom in exchange for security deserves neither." Ben Franklin's words still ring true today. I would vote for a rock with a face painted on it before i would vote for Bush,or his cronies (Gonzales yes you are one of them).

Regards,

FookBush

[David Arbogast]

Bad Quote

You quoted Franklin incorrectly.

First of all, he didn't SAY it.. he WROTE it
'and even his authorship of the quote is questionable. But one thing is for certain, you got it wrong.
The true quote says:

"Thoſe who would give up Essential Liberty to purchaſe a little Temporary Safety, deſerve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Note "ESSENTIAL LIBERTY" and "TEMPORARY SAFETY" and take into consideration the wide variations of possible interpretations.

I've never head anybody suggest that the right to surf the web without your ISP logging your actions is an "ESSENTIAL LIBERTY." Furthermore, one must wonder if the intent is for permanent change, or temporary change.

Franklin was a pretty smart guy.... lets not twist his words to suit our own purposes.

[Monsuco1]

Re: Ben Franklin said it then and ...

If one considers what government is and why it exist, it makes that statement rather foolish. Government is simply an exchange of freedom for security. With no government there is unlimited freedom but absolutly no security. Philosophers refere to this as the "state of nature". Under government I give up much of my unlimited freedom for the security in knowing that someone is not free to hurt me.

My only question is, what are you hiding?

[p.shearer]

Ben Franklin also said...

...the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants every few years... any volunteers?

[Scree]

Gee thanks

Give that dude a ticket back to mexico now! ha

[heystoopid]

OOPS!

Oops!, just one ten thou more, and we will have the US version of the Cheka/NKVD man in every street, and apartment block, merely to report disent to Chicken George the 1st the asian war draft evader!, and all is obsequient minions like sleepy Gonzales et al!

The Joe Stalin of the new centrury has arisen!

[alegr]

Cheka/NKVD

FOr those not familiar with Rissuan history, I'll explain:

CheKa - extraordinary Comission(s). Establiched during post-1917 Russian Civil War by communists. Had right to execute without "due process".
NKVD - People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. Ministry of police, including state security police. In 1937-1941 executed many people by so called "troika assembly" centences. Many times, the relatives were told that the executed person was sentenced to 10 years of prison without right to contact.

[anarchyreigns]

Fvck you Gonzales!

<eom>

[georgescott]

Has nothing to do with children

The last thing this has to do with is Children.

The government could be more agressive on Child Pornography but they don`t have enough people to do so, so they say. Saving terabytes and terabytes of data will do just about nothing for child pornography.

Child Pornography usually gets prosecuted when it is found on hard drives during other investigations. In the case of John Karr, well they didn`t even want to bother but had to do to political pressure. They are even offering him a plea bargain so they can skip the bother of a trial which would likely put him away for a longer time.

Data retention has to do with all of the interesting things you can find out about a person if you are doing an investigation of any sort.

One day the government will start investigations on "profiles" that might fit possible crimes and these logs would be perfect.

Visit the ACLU website, New York Times Website, a demonstrator website (say save the whales) and buy sign paper from Staples... the system might note your record for review. Data-Mining... profiling. Can`t do it unless if you have the tools, an extensive log of your online activities will be helpful if you become a thorn in the wrong persons side.

[Bush.Sux]

retards in gov't office

"This is a national problem that requires federal legislation,"


Ironic cause it's the Feds that are the problem not the users.

[talledega500]

Proxies arent ISPs

Although there is something in a name

http://www.mysecureisp.com

[aSiriusTHoTH]

U.S Government: All your searches are belong to us

Roberto Gonzalez: All your searches are belong to us... muahahahahaha...

[Drewzilla]

The Internet is already slowing down.

I am worried that all this data retention goobly glop will further slow down the series of tubes that makes up the Internet. Why just the other day I sent an Internet and it took took two days to be delivered. Where did it go?

Government Internet experts are already addressing this fortunately.

http://www.seriesoftubes.net/

[p.shearer]

Privacy versus pedophiles

When it comes to matters of balancing privacy concerns versus legitimate law enforcement needs to protect children I find this to be a no-brainer.

The bill of rights guarantees us protection against "unreasonable" search and seizure. As long as data retention is tied to an ironclad system of requiring court subpoenas for this information I have no problem with it being retained. I do think however we need to make a distinction between criminal and civil courts. The information should be allowed to be subpoenaed by criminal courts, however should not be allowed to be used in civil suits. This should help balance legitimate law enforcement concerns with the individuals overall concern for an individual's privacy.

[alegr]

Re:Privacy versus pedophiles

More than that, the information could ONLY be subpoenaed for child porn and abuse investigation, and not enforceable nor available for any other investigations or lawsuits.

[umbrae]

You mean like...

wiretapping laws. LOL

Time to be afraid... very afraid.

[Todd Hundley]

You are so smart

Such wit, intelligence and prose. You are my hero. I hope you post on every story on Cnet.

[thedreaming]

The problem with it...

The problem with this, with anything potentially dangerous, is use. Using the data to capture a child pornographer would be considered proper use. Using the data to see how many people aren't happy with how the president is running things is not proper use.

Stopping another 9/11 would be proper use. Checking to see how many people went to http://www.presidentmoron.com is not.

Once the government has access to the data, what is there to stop them from using the data for a purpose other than capturing criminals?

Most criminals are smart enough to either hide their tracks or just not use the internet or other traceable technology, so what is this data going to be really used for?

[David Arbogast]

...is not so much of a problem

<,Once the government has access to the data, what is there to stop them from using the data for a purpose other than capturing criminals?>>

Which is why the government is NOT mandating access to this data. It will be held by the companies that collect it, and a subpoena will be required for law-enforcement to obtain it. Just as usual.

The LAW is there to stop them. If a government official uses the data illegally, and then presents it in a court of law, the judicial branch will be acting as the check that not only throws out the evidence, but also charges the official with a legal violation.

Just because data exists does not mean that it can be used by the government to harm you. The data already exists anyhow... this proposal is just to standardize it.

[enigma.live]

POST OFFICE SHOULD RETAIN RECORDS

well if your ok with this law then your ok with the government requiring the post office to make record of every mailing, every delivery, opening the contents of the mail and photocopying, and then just retain, don't worry no spying will be done, but just require them to keep on record for the next two years all this data about you. I'm sure that that's ok with those logic idiots who say, "if you have nothing to hide" crap...

[Too Old For IT]

Idiot Parents Support Jack-Booted Storm Troopers

As long as they can let the TV or the internet be a substitute for real parenting, most stupid parents would vote for the Prsident of Iran and his fascist policies.

No wait. We are already there. Move along, sheep. Nothing to see here.

[Todd Hundley]

You are so SMART

Please keep POSTING your intelligent THOUGHTS. I look FORWARD to your next missive. Thank you.