A new proposal is under way from the Bush administration that would obligate ISPs to help Feds build a centralized system for broad monitoring of the 'Net—and, potentially, of its users. John Markoff and John Schwartz report in today's NYT:
The proposal is part of a final version of a report, "The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace," set for release early next year, according to several people who have been briefed on the report. It is a component of the effort to increase national security after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board is preparing the report, and it is intended to create public and private cooperation to regulate and defend the national computer networks, not only from everyday hazards like viruses but also from terrorist attack. Ultimately the report is intended to provide an Internet strategy for the new Department of Homeland Security.
Such a proposal, which would be subject to Congressional and regulatory approval, would be a technical challenge because the Internet has thousands of independent service providers, from garage operations to giant corporations like American Online, AT&T, Microsoft and Worldcom.
Copy of the report a related study on how to handle privacy implications of TIA-like systems (Thanks, Tom Cross!) is available on EPIC's website, here.
