Currently, in the attempt to keep children away from online pornography, both the United States House and Senate are taking into account putting forward laws entailing that all Internet access providers must store web users’ data for over a period of two years.

In case they pass, the bills might come to apply to public Wi-Fi hotspots as well.

The two laws, S.436 in the Senate and H.R.1076 in the House, both entitled „Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth Act of 2009” or the „SAFETY Act,” state that providers of an electronic communication service or remote computing service are to retain the users’ info for at least two years.

Consequently, the bills require that any locations providing Internet service retain data on every person that used the hotspot for a number of two years, which in its turn entails that the location needs to be fitted with database resources able to keep the information.

Unfortunately, if major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as T-Mobile, Comcast and AT&T benefit from tools of the like, coffee-shops, airports or even hotels might not have the necessary fundings to afford database resources.

Moreover, the laws have raised concerns among web surfers with regards to what might come to be done with the data gathered on them, many having claimed that the bills could prompt other issues that would threaten Net Neutrality. The latter states that all Internet traffic should be treated equally and also guarantees a free and competitive market for Internet content.