EU Net firms start storing user data

[muriel_volestrangler]

Details of user e-mails, website visits and net phone calls will be stored by internet service providers (ISPs) from Monday under an EU directive.
...
ISPs and telecoms firms have resisted the proposals while some countries in the EU are contesting the directive.
...
All ISPs in the European Union will have to store the records for a year. An EU directive which requires telecoms firms to hold on to telephone records for 12 months is already in force.

The data stored does not include the content of e-mails and websites, nor a recording of a net phone call, but is used to determine connections between individuals.

Authorities can get access to the stored records with a warrant.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7985339.stm

A very bad move, IMO. It's one thing getting a warrant to start recording these for a suspect; it's quite another to have everyone's sitting there 'just in case'. The former might actually be useful in crime prevention (because you're doing it before a crime); the latter is far too open to misuse.

[MadHound]

1. EU net firm is merely the first to admit to doing this

Our government, along with corporations like ATT and others have been doing this for awhile, they just don't admit to it.

[PSPS]

2. Bush started this illegality in February, 2001, shortly after being installed.

The media rarely points this out, preferring to use the now-standard "started by bush after 9/11" lie.

[msongs]

3. change you can believe in. data mining to the max nt