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US Justice Department wants image sharing sites to save user data
The Department of Justice wants web sites that allow users to upload photos to keep records on those individuals for at least two years. DOJ officials say the proposal would help them investigate child pornography charges in cases where law enforcement isn't immediately alerted of illegal images. While some web sites retain personal information indefinitely, others delete the same information after a brief period.
Interestingly, while the proposal would apply to web sites and Internet Service Providers, universities and libraries would be exempt -- for PR reasons.
The proposal is hardly a done deal. Congress would need to pass a law in order to implement the DOJ's plan. And something tells us there will be a few companies out there willing to put up a fight.
While the measure is described as a way to fight child pornography, it goes much further in it scope. Federal investigators might decide to ask web sites to turn over data on other topics as well, even if they're not breaking the law.
Blogger Josh Wolf made headlines last year by refusing to turn over a complete video he'd shot of a protest, believing that investigators wanted him to identify participants. This proposal could allow the DOJ to claim it has a national security interest in tracking down people who post similar photos to sites like Flickr.
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsjames 42Mar 4th 2007 5:43PM
Well, this should make it a lot easier to find the child pornagraphers who want to be found.
mizMar 6th 2007 7:10PM
Ugh... I'm only thinking of how much useless paperwork this will generate for the government, using tax dollars for it.
Andrew Hillman, Andrew HillmanMar 5th 2007 7:35AM
Good IDEA!!!
GhostDoggyMar 5th 2007 7:36AM
I wonder what hasn't been considered by some justice department, federal law enforcement agency, or some intelligence group that they could try to play the 'child pornography' card with.
This is nothing more than the governments trying to off-load their own financial burden and place it onto private enterprise while at the same time invading the private arrangement between a picture owner and the owner of the online storage facility.
Now, I am all for measures against child pornography, but I am pretty certain the feds and locals will demand our grocery store checkout list of items to see if it leads 'child pornography'.
tewMar 5th 2007 9:11AM
this is a kase for the fbi to take care of.
PeterMar 5th 2007 10:28AM
I'm not advocating child porn, but since when is it a matter of "national security"?
This just another way for the government to intrude into our lives and take away our freedoms by claiming "terrorism" or "security".
BrianMar 5th 2007 11:51AM
"People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both." - Benjamin Franklin (variant quote)
tobin92Mar 6th 2007 3:24PM
Why should they care?
CP doesn't kill people like the war in Iraq or Drugs, or Guns.
Shouldn't they worry about that, and have the Internet as a self regulating coumminity for the most part