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Hawaiian Bill Would Force ISPs to Track Users' Web Histories For 2 Years

New submitter mazinger writes "In Hawaii, a bill has been proposed to retain data on Internet users and the sites they visit. Apparently, there is also no requirement for a warrant to obtain the information from service providers. The bill affects not only ISPs but also coffee shops and anyone providing Internet access."

13 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Another example of clueless legislators... by Iphtashu+Fitz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Once again we see a proposed law that will only impact law abiding people (and be a major invasion of their privacy to boot).

    If I was intent on covering my tracks I could take so many routes:

    - Download Tor and use it to privatize all my browsing
    - Search for open SOCKS proxies, etc. to exploit
    - Rent a VPS out of state and set up a proxy on it

    and any one of hundreds of other approaches to take...

  2. Let HI internet access go dark by snobody · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the ISPs had any balls, they'd tell the HI government that, if they pass this law, the ISPs would simply cease to provide internet service to HI residents. And if they do pass the bill, make good on the promise. It's either that or be forced by the HI government to buy terabytes of disk space and thousands of dollars of computers to track everything the HI internet user does. Politicians should not make laws about technology that they don't understand.

    1. Re:Let HI internet access go dark by Tsingi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If the ISPs had any balls, they'd tell the HI government that, if they pass this law, the ISPs would simply cease to provide internet service to HI residents. And if they do pass the bill, make good on the promise. It's either that or be forced by the HI government to buy terabytes of disk space and thousands of dollars of computers to track everything the HI internet user does. Politicians should not make laws about technology that they don't understand.

      You mean the balls to go out of business?
      OTOH they could send the data to the government on a weekly basis and let them sink or swim.

      Where would you like that sent sir?

      No one uses the cliche "1984" anymore, we're living it.

    2. Re:Let HI internet access go dark by MozeeToby · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You mean the balls to go out of business?

      Sad but yes. Would you help the empire build the Death Star?

  3. Re:illegal regulation of interstate commerce? by goldspider · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would argue that the Interstate Commerce clause doesn't give the federal government the authority to monitor private communications either. Statists are entitled to their opinions, I suppose.

    --
    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
  4. Re:Why stop there? by mr1911 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Your post is in jest and modded funny. Unfortunately it is right on for what the "authorities" would like, except the blog is posted for you by your phone, computer, ISP, neighbor, bank, employer, and cameras covering public places.

    It is for safety. Just not yours.

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    Any offense taken to this post is at your sole discretion.
  5. Re:Why stop there? by Stormthirst · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They do already. It's called Facebook. It's just not a requirement. Yet.

  6. Pollute the data by blackfireuponus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only way to fight this in the long run is data pollution.
    I heard about it in another thread that Pirate Bay adds fake IP addresses to the real ones.
    In the long run more sophisticated tools for this purpose will emerge, and Anon can graduate from the LOIC to something that will have a permanent impact.
    We won SOPA, and a major website is taken down the next day.
    It is obvious that preventing laws like this is not going to stop data retention in the long run.
    The path forward is to destroy the credibility of the data they collect.

  7. Re: "Politicians should not make laws ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    about technology that they don't understand."

    In point of fact Politicians should not make laws about any issue (technological or otherwise) that they don't understand!!

  8. Re:I've got an idea, by Aryden · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because "people" as in "we the people" do not pass laws. Congresscritters on the hill pass the laws that their corporate overlords want them to pass regardless of us. The exceptions are when you have such a multi-million person outcry, they have to listen.

  9. Re:Why stop there? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    We went to war with the German Police State in 1941. now we are become them.

  10. Re:Umm, what? by forkfail · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Involuntary beta testing in a limited market.

    --
    Check your premises.
  11. check me.. by way2trivial · · Score: 3, Insightful

    hold the sarcasm please.

    the contents of a phone call is protected solidly with laws re; privacy.. so too is the content of an envelope.

    but the fact that I called someone? and what number I called? and how long I was on the line? not so protected.

    They don't want the content of every packet.. they want to tie the endpoint IP's and timestamps... to a person....

    --
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