Australia's Attorney-General's Department is considering a plan to require ISPs to store users' Internet activity--whether or not they are suspected of crimes--and that is spurring criticism from advocates and industry experts, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The Attorney-General's Department has said it is in the process of determining whether a plan similar to the European Directive on Data Retention would be appropriate for Australia, but such groups as the Internet Industry Association and Electronic Frontiers Australia are criticizing the plan as a "fishing expedition" for data. Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis, meanwhile, has issued a statement in reaction to the discussions, noting her office will expect any proposed legislation to have "the appropriate privacy safeguards built in."
Full Story