Internet monitoring rule raises concerns

A new law enforcement tool to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic could cost MU and Columbia’s colleges the price of an extra server or two — or millions — while raising new concerns over privacy.

In September, the Federal Communications Commission approved a change involving the tapping of e-mail and monitoring user’s Internet usage. Currently, if a law enforcement agency needs to monitor a student’s Internet traffic, it must obtain a subpoena and go through the university’s technical support. By June 2007, though, Internet service providers must figure out a way to let an agency such as the FBI plug directly into the student’s electronic correspondence after getting a subpoena.

“It is unclear to us what we have to do to comply with the new laws,” said Terry Robb, director of applications and training at MU. “If they are going to create new rules, they need to tell us what to do to follow them.”

MU has an acceptable-use policy that allows e-mail to be released as a result of legal action, Robb said. MU has complied in the past with