Gonzales Wants ISP Data Retention To Curb Child Porn

$RANDOMLUSER writes, "The AP is reporting that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before the Senate Banking Committee today and called for Congress to require ISPs to preserve customer records, asserting that prosecutors need them to fight child pornography. 'This is a problem that requires federal legislation,' Gonzales said. He called the government's lack of access to customer data the biggest obstacle to deterring child porn. 'We respect civil liberties but we have to harmonize this so we can get more information,' he said." Gonzales added that he agrees with a letter sent to Congress in June by 49 state attorneys general, requesting federal legislation to require ISPs to hold onto customer data longer.

Comments

Re:Privacy for the Incidental

[Anonymous Coward]

just curious, when you're licking Gonzales cajones for him do you ever come up for air or do you just smoother yourself and take a bit of cortical anoxia for Uncle Sam?

Logic Deficit Disorder (LDD)

[vague_ascetic]

"Does the law really work in such a way where you can be supeonaed based on what link you clicked on? Shouldn't you arrest the person who created the link?

You do realise we're discussing the Bush Administration don't you? They consider "evidence" to be an obscene word, which is improper to use in a public discussion. They seem to be a primary source of the American Government's Rampant Intelligence Failures. It's not the first time they have been working ass backwards on a problem. Consider:

"We created the Terrorist Surveillance Program to monitor the communications between al Qaeda commanders abroad and terrorist operatives within our borders. If al Qaeda is calling somebody in America, we need to know why, in order to stop attacks"

GW Bush, "President Discusses Global War on Terror", Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C., September 5, 2006

"I need people in Washington, D.C. who are willing to give those who are responsible for protecting America all the tools they need -- tools such as the Patriot Act; tools such as programs that say if al Qaeda is calling into the United States, we want to why, in order to protect the United States of America."

GW Bush, "Remarks by the President at Bob Corker for Senate and Tennessee Republican Party Dinner", Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, August 30, 2006

"And if al Qaeda is calling in to the United States, we want to know why they're calling."

BW Bush, "President Bush Meets with Economic Advisors", Camp David, August 18, 2006

"I've also been clear about the fact that we do not listen to domestic phone calls without court approval, and that this government will continue to guard the privacy of the American people. But if al Qaeda is calling into the United States, we want to know, and we want to know why."

GW Bush, "President Bush and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia Participate in Joint Press Availability", East Room, White House, Washington DC, May 16, 2006

"It seemed to make sense to me that if somebody associated with the enemy is making a call inside the country, that it would be helpful to know why, in order to protect the American people. Lawyers came back and said, you got the authority, Mr. President.

I then went and said, well, gosh, if we do go forward, I know there's going to be some consternation in the halls of the United States Congress. So we briefed people responsible for intelligence and the leadership in both bodies, in both political parties. Just like my buddy in Texas said, if you're trying to pull one over on them, why are you briefing the Congress? (Laughter.) If you're doing something illegal, why did you call the Congress in and lay it for them to fully understand what we're doing to protect the American people?

I wanted to share that with you. I think it's important for you to know why I make decisions. I'm confident what I'm doing. The decision I made is the right decision. If al Qaeda is calling in the United States, we want to know why."

GW Bush, "President's Remarks at Chocola for Congress Reception", Bethel College Indiana, Mishawaka, Indiana, February 23, 2006

"The Congress passed the authorization to use military force against al Qaeda after September the 11th, and the Supreme Court, in a recent opinion, ruled that the President -- the Congress gave me the authority to use what's called the "fundamental incidents of war." In other words, Congress authorized me t