The Australian government is reported to be planning to introduce a new law that requires internet service providers to keep a record of their client's web surfing history, as part of the government's fight against terrorism and phaedophilia.

According to ZDNet.com.au, the Australian Attorney General's Department, has met with several ISPs to discuss the proposal requiring them to store data for five to 10 years.

Existing Australian rules only require ISPs to provide user's web data records when ordered by the courts.

In some parts of Europe, ISPs keep records of internet use between six and 24 months.

One industry player reportedly told ZDNet: "They seem quite intent [on the plan] and they keep throwing up the words 'terrorism' and 'paedophiles'." We're talking browsing history and emails, way beyond what I would consider to be normal SMS, retaining full browsing history and everything."

The Attorney General has confirmed the proposal and added that the department is looking at the European Directive on Data Retention to determine if such rule is appropriate to implement within Australia's law enforcement and security.

However, a spokesman for the department Robert McClelland dismissed speculations that the government would go as far as some feared.

McClelland told the Sydney Morning Herald: ''The consultations relate to the information to identify the participants in crime networks and terrorist organizations. It does not include the content of a communication."