I have a question about internet service providers?

[elephant]

Hi, I'm doing some research for an internet project at school and I have two questions about internet service providers.

- Do internet service providers keep internet search records?
- And If they do , How long for? ( how many months?)

[Jack]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the UK's laws, so please be aware that my answer is from the US perspective, and I'm only providing it as a general guideline.

The ISPs here log every URL that you visit, and the law requires that they retain those logs for a specified amount of time (I believe it's somewhere within 3-6 months but I'm not 100% sure about that). Many ISPs keep the logs a lot longer than the legal minimum just to cover their butts if there's a legal situation later down the road.

Right now, ISPs only record the web addresses you visit, but there is a raging debate on whether or not ISPs should be allowed to record more intimate data about your web activites (formally known as "deep packet inspection.") To clarify: the ISP will log that you went to your email web page, but they can't log the actual emails that you send/receive.

BIG DISCLAIMER HERE: Right now I am discussing ISPs ONLY, because that is what you asked about. But you should be aware that federal government agencies do not have any restrictions on deep packet inspection like the ISP does. What I mean is, just because your ISP isn't allowed to read your emails doesn't mean the feds won't be reading it.

[Southpaw]

It is not months matey, they are now legally required to retain it for 6 years I think and with the storage capacity available these days it might even be forever.
Anyway, here is the UK Governments opinion;
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commu...-the-facts
It is much the same as itemised billing on the telephone network, the two ends of the communication, the originator and the receiver are logged but the content is not.
Also handy for resolving billing disputes by the way.
So yes they have to, and for a very long time and for a good purpose as we like to feel safe from terrorists and criminals.
Should give you somewhere to start your research on the subject.
Regards, ex BT Bob.