SORM in the USA
In 1998, Russia’s security services introduced SORM-2 (Система оперативно-розыскных мероприятий 2), which forced Russian ISP’s to purchase and install “black boxes” for comprehensive monitoring of internet communications. These regulations were roundly criticized, buth in Russia and by foreign governments and organizations; some went as far as to say that Russia was becoming a police state. In 2000, the most egregious part of the legislation (the one permitting the police to monitor communications without informing the ISP) was struck down by court order. However, the bulk of SORM-2 still stands, and today Russian ISP’s have little black boxes, costing $15000-25000 each, chugging away and capturing packets.
That sort of thing doesn’t happen in the US, right? The FBI can’t read your emails without getting a judge’s signature, right?
Right. But not for long. Riding on the popular hysteria of terrorism and paedophilia, the DOJ wants US ISPs to keep full records of their customers’ internet activities for at least two months. That’s total monitoring of all of the ISP’s customers. No warrants, no judge’s signature, no probable cause required.
Is the US of A land of liberty or a police state?