Australia Wants To Retain All Web Browsing Data

Published on 06-13-2010

Source: The Age

THE federal government wants your personal internet data, and they don’t want to have to apply to a court to get it.

Revelations that the federal government wants Australia’s 400-odd internet service providers (ISPs) to log and retain customers’ web browsing data, so law enforcement can access it during criminal cases, have sparked alarm in the industry.

Currently law enforcement needs court-approved search warrants before they can record someone’s personal data via their ISP. The proposed regulation would mean companies would be forced to store certain information for several years just in case it was later needed.