AT&T on the lookout for Web piracy

Hollywood studios have enlisted one of the nation's largest Internet Service Providers to help fight illegal file sharing, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

AT&T and the film industry will develop anti-piracy technology that identifies those who download unauthorized copies of films and TV shows, the paper reported Thursday.

Privacy groups worry that the behemoth phone company could emerge as a powerful Internet gatekeeper.

"AT&T is going to act like the copyright police, and that is going to make customers angry," said Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, a digital rights advocacy group, according to the Times.

San Antonio-based AT&T began working last week with studios and record companies to develop anti-piracy technology that will target the most frequent offenders, the paper reported.

[Ezra4no1]

It all goes down hill from here.

Everyone ought to know that the law has less to do with the wording of what it says and more to do with how it is interpreted by lawyers. With AT&T and the Hollywood backing this it will only be a matter of time before their lawyers will interpret the laws as everyone on the internet is a pirate and thus a criminal.

[cyboreric]

Tough Call

Just like cameras used to catch speeders on roadways... Does this affect honest people? Perhaps not. But we must consider the issue of Internet policing. Personnaly, I want un fettered access to the internet. I don't want to be protected by my ISP from viruses, spyware, etc... likewise I don't want to be filtered. We all know the US government tightly monitors our Internet already but what ever happened to "Freedom"? I hope this makes sense to some of you. My message to AT&T... it was nice doing business with you

[opendev]

Eventuality

Regardless of where this goes, the fault herein is with many whom have contributed their time to the illegal sharing of copyrighted materials over the internet via P2P Networks. A fair many ("More now than 3-4 years ago.") are well aware that what they blatantly participate in is an illegal activity.

With the diligence of the RIAA, MPAA, and other organizations with file sharing of copyrighted materials it should have already been a given that this would be a possible eventuality but I do sincerely hope this does not ruin the privacy for those whom do not abuse what freedoms they have to commit copyright infringement or participate in illegal activities.

File sharing after all can be a very legal and legitimate way to make available various works or information.