It is hard to guage how proposed ISP tracking legislation will impact Canadian ISPs if the new bill is passed in the US. Certainly, Canadians who use US-based ISPs would be impacted.

The bill was introduced in the US Congress last week, and if passed, it would compel internet service providers (ISPs) to track their customers’ online activities to aid police in possible future investigations. ISPs who fail to retain the data could face fines and their employees could even face prison terms. There doesn’t seem to be any time limit on the data retention obligations, nor does there seem to be constrains on the scope of the data covered: CNET speculates that data which records details of web browsing, instant messages, or e-mail exchanges might all be fair game under the proposed law.

Calgary – 15:43 MST