Oh woe ..more data retention ...and I need a drink!

I just read a USA Today article regarding a meeting which took place last week in Washington between our Attorney General,the FBI and Google, Microsoft, Verizon, Comcast and other ISPs regarding a new direction in internet data retention.

I knew that a lot was now being retained in Alberto Gonzales fight against child predators but our government now wants the ISPs to hold onto our searches and emails for 2 years. The article says they don't want the contents of our emails but they want all the traffic details along with all our internet searches. After my initial reaction, which probably looked like someone hit by a stun gun, I started thinking about the logistics and legalities of what he's ordering up.

If a typical ISP hangs on to data for 30-90 days now and has to add on 6 to 8 times as much storage capability, who is going to pay for that? I suspect it's us. What about user agreements? What about privacy laws? I sort of understand where Gonzales is coming from, but just like the recent talk about retaining telephone call information, it seems like needle in a haystack information in many ways. I can't imagine them sorting through all my searches for cheap JP Tod shoes or information regarding my ex-husband in order to find out I'm not a terrorist or child pornographer but a woman crazed about shoe deals and the bastard of a husband she's trying to track down. I honestly don't care if they go through my searches, but it seems silly.

If a person wants to make a phone call or send an email or do a search with malice aforethought, they're not going to do it on a traceable ISP now, are they? A few stupid ones might but not for long because you know there will be a huge black market for untraceable internet services. There are too many entrepreneurs around for there not to be!

Meanwhile, the government and the providers are overwhelmed with information and we'll get stuck with the bill ...in more ways than one because our rates will go up as will our taxes.

This definitely calls for a stiff drink of the best whiskey I've got in the house ...I need to be numb!