U.S. Changes Tune on ISP Records Snoop

WASHINGTON – Switching from the war against child pornography to the war against terror, the Justice Department has changed its reason for demanding that the world’s leading Internet Service Providers retain user surf and search data.

Justice started its witch-hunt for search records in January of this year, marking an aggressive move on the part of the Bush administration to revive the infamous Child Online Protection Act.

But now U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is saying that the reason for the records request is to aid in the fight against terrorism.

Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller have conducted meetings with some of the leading ISPs, including AOL, Google, Microsoft and Verizon, requesting that they retain data for two years in support of future prosecutions against alleged terrorists.

Gonzales reportedly has acknowledged Justice’s backtracking on the issue, but has made it emphatically clear that help from the major ISPs is essential in stomping out terrorism.

However, Justice’s attempted claim on user data has not been an easy battle to win, particularly with privacy advocates insisting that government access to user information and online behavior is a direct violation of the 1st Amendment.

In defense of user privacy, Google took the matter to heart when Justice first requested access to user data earlier this year, resulting in a legal spar that Google lost and was ordered to grant Justice access to a portion of its website index.

According to a DOJ spokesperson, the data retention request only involves records pertaining to email trafficking and search records, and Justice would require a subpoena to obtain such information. In addition, the ISPs would be stuck footing the bill for increased storage capacity and securing the data. For companies like Google, one of the most heavily trafficked search engines in the world, data retained over a two-year period could be extremely costly, experts warn.

"The issue for us is not whether we retain data, but we want to see it done right," said Dave McClure, president of the U.S. Internet Industry Association, which represents many Internet service providers. "Our concerns are who pays for it, what data is retained, and if it is retained legally without violating federal laws and subscriber agreements."

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Roxie Rae Relaunches Site Through XSiteAbility

Roxie Rae has relaunched her site through XSiteAbility.

Federal Appeals Court Vacates FTC 'Click to Cancel' Rule Pending Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Tuesday vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions, pending further review.

NYC Adult Stores Lose Challenge to Zoning Law, May Face Relocation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to allow enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

Only Tax Deductions Joins Pineapple Support as Sponsor

Adult industry accounting firm Only Tax Deductions has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Adult Empire Launches 'Conversations' Podcast Series

Adult Empire has launched a new official podcast series hosted by Nicole Chappelle and Charlie.

Sex Work CEO Launches 'Teams Plan' for AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Teams Plan for its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Show More