FBI Urges ISP Tracking

BOSTON - During a speech on Tuesday given at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference, FBI Director Robert Mueller called on Internet service providers to keep track of what their customers do online. “Terrorists coordinate their plans cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, as do violent sexual predators prowling chat rooms,” said the former U.S. attorney. “All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims. We must find a balance between the legitimate need for privacy and law enforcement’s clear need for access.” Mueller’s remarks are just the latest in a series from Bush administration officials eager to require ISP data retention on private citizens. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is championing legislation that would force ISPs to document and store the online activities of users indefinitely.