UK requires ISPs to keep customer data beginning today

IT Pro reports that an EU directive requiring Internet Service Providers to keep internet data on customers for one year officially comes into force in the UK today. The UK government has agreed to pay the 70 million dollar cost that keeping the data means to ISPs. Explaining the need for data storage, the Home Office said “Communications data is the where and when of communication and plays a vital part in a wide range of criminal investigations, and prevention of terrorists attacks as well as contributing to public safety more generally. Without communications data resolving crimes such as the Rhys Jones murder would be very difficult if not impossible.”