Keep my own records?

May 15, 2007 6:57 AM

Now that the CALEA deadline has passed and the feds could potentially have access to any and all of my internet communications, is it better to keep a record for myself of everything I do online?

With the CALEA deadline passed, my ISP is required to record my online life. I don't plan on doing anything evil, but if I am ever accused of doing something evil, would it be better to keep my own record of what I do online to verify that what "the man" has is correct?

On the other hand, does keeping my own records make it easier for someone to get at it without a warrant?

posted by yellowbkpk to computers & internet (4 comments total)

Where does it say that your ISP is required to log everything? Looks to be just a provision that allows the Feds to tap digital lines which they used to be able to do on regular old analog lines. I'd also doubt that your records would mean much of anything if push came to shove.
posted by zeoslap at 7:08 AM on May 15, 2007

It doesn't seem like there would be much point, for at least a couple reasons. First, any record you make would be easily falsifiable by post-hoc modifications and thus not very trustworthy. Second, there is no proof that any record you generate is even complete in the first place - how would they know that you hadn't just left out all the bad stuff?

So, unless you subject your computer to some sort of 3rd party auditing to prove that your record really does catch all network activity, and unless you plan to escrow the records periodically so that you can't go back and revise them, don't bother. In other words, any adequate treatment would be worse than the initial problem.
posted by rkent at 7:19 AM on May 15, 2007

I don't think this is really feasible. Focus your efforts on getting CALEA turned back by supporting the EFF and so on, or failing that, just devote yourself to making the most awesome woot-tracker ever. ;-)
posted by Mr. Gunn at 8:37 AM on May 15, 2007

Seriously, donate money now.
posted by Caviar at 9:05 AM on May 15, 2007