Proposed legislation would require Internet traffic logging

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"A proposed new law would require all Internet providers to keep user and traffic records for two years. This is huge, as it also includes home users, hotels and your local coffee shop. The legal and political aspects of this legislation are explained well by CNET’s Declan McCullagh in this CNET News post. I will focus on the issues that network administrators and others in the IT community would have with this law should it come to fruition.

First of all, this may mean the end of many free access points. If an organization has to expend extra effort (and incur liability) to provide free Wi-Fi with your crumpets and tea, this service may be first on the chopping block. This requirement extended to the home user will surely be haphazard, lacking support, and without consistency. The burden, in my opinion, will fall heavily on Internet service providers (ISPs) to log this information for residential accounts."