shouting loudly

Qwest supports data retention laws

In a shocker yesterday, Qwest Communications supported proposed federal laws that would force ISPs and others to retain data about customers’ internet traffic.

Under one proposal by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), ISPs would be required to retain customers’ records for the length of the service contract and at least one year after. Other possible requirements could force web sites such as search engines to retain data, too.

Qwest’s support is surprising for two reasons. First, this will add substantially to their cost of doing business. (Ask your favorite IT administrator how much extra effort and equipment it would take to separate server records for each individual subscriber and retain them for different periods of time. Likely answer: Not sure, but a LOT.) As far as I’ve heard, every other ISP that has taken a stance has opposed this new law.

Second, Qwest refused the NSA’s unwarranted request for phone records. Because of that, I’m more inclined to trust Qwest with their data records, but they already keep 99% of them for at least a year.

I fear that Qwest, which has conscionable privacy practices, will give political cover to a law that will force ISPs with looser privacy requirements (are you reading this, Verizon, you loatheful ISP you?) to hang on to data for much longer. And that’s the worst of both worlds.

This law may well increase the popularity of anonymizing web proxies, though those in the US would presumably become much less competitive.

Incidentally, not everyone in Congress supports the long-term retention of data. Rick Boucher (D-VA), who’s so correct on so much about tech law, has sponsored H.R. 4731, which would force web sites (e.g., search engines) to ditch their data quickly.