House Bill 2288 is only 1 page long, but it has people fired up on both sides of the issue.
The proposed measure as it was introduced would require Internet service providers to save every Hawaii web subscribers data and browsing history for a minimum of 2 years.
Rep. John Mizuno, who drafted the bill, says it's a way to curb cyber crime.
"The key to that is we want some type of electronic footprint. If you have a predator out there and he/she is trolling for kids we want law enforcement to be equipped with the evidence needed to prosecute," says Rep. Mizuno, (D) Kalihi Valley, Fort Shafter.
The Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu City Prosecutors are behind the bill, saying it will help law enforcement gather evidence against cyber criminals. Right now, many cases are dropped because a person's online search history is saved in some instances for only seven days, not long enough for investigators to track down.
"Law enforcement needs the tools, but there's some serious issues about the details of this bill," says James Kerr, Supergeeks.
Countless individuals, Internet service providers and others submitted testimony Thursday against the bill.
"OK we're going to warehouse this data, how are we going to secure it? Are we going to encript it? And once we have it what can we do with it? Can we re-sell it?" questioned Kerr.
The ACLU called the bill "a direct assault on bedrock privacy principles." The City's IT Director said it would require that free-municipal Wi-Fi in Honolulu be shut down. Internet companies argued it will only increase the cost of Internet access.
"The devil is in the details here and we need to give it a lot more thought," says Kerr.
Rep. Mizuno agrees the bill is broad, but believes it can be re-worked.
The House Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business heard both sides and deferred the measure until internet providers and law enforcement can agreed on new wording for the bill.
"I just see this as a consumer protection bill so I hope more people see where we're coming from," says Rep. Mizuno.
A similar bill has also been introduced in the state Senate. No hearing date has been scheduled on that measure.
