ISP concern over data storage

By Grant Draper

UK based Internet Service Providers have expressed concern on the current government plans regarding data storage, especially in the recent ‘Communications Data Bill’ amendments which include:

• modify the procedures for acquiring communications data and allow this data to be retained,
• transpose EU Directive 2006/24/EC on the retention of communications data into UK law.

The amendments could see providers being forced to change the way they log data as well as logging basic customer access activity on their networks for a period of year.

The governments reasoning is of course, that the maintenance of logging information, is essential in the battle to combat crime, however, this would result in individuals online privacy being compromised.