nickphillips Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Hi there I am doing an essay on civil liberties in the UK. I am covering such topics as data protection, CCTV footage, information sharing with authorities etc. I am trying to argue both the positive aspects and negative aspects of the bigbrother issue. I am trying to find out how long web providers are required to store ones Internet use by law or indeed even if this is the case. I have been told that for security reasons web providers store your internet use for a set time in order to assist the authorities with security and criminal related issues. Can anyone elaborate the time period for this, as I would like to include it in my essay? Thanks Nick Quote
mike Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Hi Nick, This is a rather sensitive area when it comes to it. I don't think anyone outside an ISP would actually know for definite. I would have though that information is kept under lock and key as if everyone knew how long your internet use was kept for, people could, and would, misuse the system. I.e, traces of hackers could be gone after x months. I would expect however that ISPs keep this sort of information for years, not months... No ISP would be daft enough not to store ones Internet use, and as you say, they are more than likely required to do so by UK Law. Quote Need computer support? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.
Tootech Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Hi Nick, At the moment, the law is in a state of flux at the moment. There is I believe a voluntary code of pratice, adhering to Home Office guidlines. Have a a look at these links: Telecommunications data retention - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Statewatch News Online: Data retention and police access in the UK - a warning for Europe Google will delete search identifiers after two years | OUT-LAW.COM Quote
Guest Saxon Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Hi, There is nothing positive about censorship or big brother tactics in the UK or Australia. Data is retaind for about 6 months but it can be as much as 18 months with some ISP's that is why some people like myself use Tor but there info is restricted as to what they can store or even trace back to you. Phorm is trying to be roled out that will give you adverts by loging your serchers an sites visited this is worrying as it's not optional nor ethical, there is thankfuly a movement to block this. Cheers, Saxon. Quote
nickphillips Posted November 1, 2008 Author Posted November 1, 2008 Thanks for the replies. It seems that some of the information contradicts other information. In a nutshell does anyone know the current storage period for internet use etc? Cheers Nick Quote
Tootech Posted November 3, 2008 Posted November 3, 2008 Nick, Just out of interest I asked my ISP - Eclipse Internet, what data they hold - this was their response: We do not keep any record of your browsing history. Our traffic management system records the type of traffic, such as web-browsing, email, peer-to-peer, ftp etc for reporting purposes but we do not log which sites and which servers you have connected to, apart from the logistical problems with storing that much data it would be a gross breach of privacy. Quote
nickphillips Posted November 3, 2008 Author Posted November 3, 2008 Thanks for that Tootech Not sure if I should include internet/email snooping in my essay now as there doesn’t seem to be any definitive information about storage periods. Thanks anyhow Nick Quote
Guest Wolfeymole Posted November 3, 2008 Posted November 3, 2008 Why don't you pose as a prospective ISP client and ask them with regard to this as Tootech did Nick. Quote
nickphillips Posted November 3, 2008 Author Posted November 3, 2008 Hi Wolfeymole To be honest I am very much computer illiterate and would not know how to do that. Am I correct in thinking that an ISP is different to a search engine like Google etc? If so would the search engines save data? Thanks again Nick Quote
Guest Wolfeymole Posted November 4, 2008 Posted November 4, 2008 An ISP is an Internet Service Provider, the people that you pay to get net access. Other ISP's for example would be BT Internet or Virgin etc. There is a small list here. Top 10 Broadband » Looking to compare internet service providers? Ring each one of them and ask about their policy. Quote
nickphillips Posted November 11, 2008 Author Posted November 11, 2008 Ok stop stop stop. Rewind. Does that mean that although the ISPs may not store information google etc may do? Am now really confused. Nick Quote
RandyL Posted November 11, 2008 Posted November 11, 2008 I suppose it might matter how you define information. Have you tried Googleing for an answer? Quote We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.Get help with computer problems. Join Free PC Help here Donations are welcome. Read Here
Guest Wolfeymole Posted November 11, 2008 Posted November 11, 2008 What Info Does Google Keep? - John Battelle's Searchblog Quote
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