This scares me... a lot.

[gerbick]

AT&T and Viacom to counter piracy...

AT&T Inc. has joined Hollywood studios and recording companies in trying to keep pirated films, music and other content off its network — the first major carrier of Internet traffic to do so.

The San Antonio-based company started working last week with studios and record companies to develop anti-piracy technology that would target the most frequent offenders, said James W. Cicconi, an AT&T senior vice president.

The nation's largest telephone and Internet service provider also operates the biggest cross-country system for handling Internet traffic for its customers and those of other providers.

Well, it's not the piracy counter-measures that bother me. Not in the least.

It's that... well AT&T already spying on us already... and I don't quite like that.

Now they hook up with Viacom to "track" people? Track... how exactly? And why would the people that already spy for the US gubmint now turn around and spy for Hollywood?

Besides for monetary reasons, that is.

Or better yet... how?

Seriously... this just scares me. I'd hate to have my perusal of YouTube or a movie preview turn into a way to indict or sue me. This does not sit well with me at all.

[PAlexC]

Wouldn't this require a warrant? How is it different than wiretaps or checking up on library records?

*writes check to the ACLU*

[gerbick]

NSA doesn't require warrants for wiretaps cuz' Bush said so.

[japangreg]

NSA doesn't require warrants for wiretaps cuz' Bush said so.

Welcome to the new world order.

...you know, usually, that sounds like taking it a little over the top... not so much these days.

[TallGuyLittleCar]

Wouldn't this require a warrant? How is it different than wiretaps or checking up on library records?

*writes check to the ACLU*

they will probably put a disclaimer in the very small type of the contract you sign with them.

[DaVulf]

This only affects the US though, right?

[TallGuyLittleCar]

This only affects the US though, right?

not really... I think at&t has enough of the net backbone for it to effect most everybody in the north america.. and some folks out beyond. The internets is open by default.. you should expect no more privacy sending something over the internet than you would yelling something across crowded room.

lawsuits will be another matter though.

[DaVulf]

They're so annoying. Just stop trying to control people for christ sake. Stupid MPAA and RIAA. Get a life.

[Frets]

I've got a feeling they'll go after cable subscribers first.
The big get even for viop.

[jAQUAN]

sounds like mcarthyism 2.0.

[sk8Krog]

Pirating movies supports terrorism. Obviously.

[DaVulf]

And since 50% of it originates from Montreal, we must assume that french people are terrorists. (oh damn, we already assumed that, lol)

[silverx2]

the french cant possibly be terrorists.. they dont have the will power, they would surrender way to easily

[gerbick]

Do people from Montreal truly consider themselves French people, French speaking people, or just Québécois like the rest of the world deems them?

I will say though... once while in Montreal, even a bum asking for spare change in French almost had me convinced. Almost.

Anyway... I'm still worrying about how they will track binary data. I can see capturing data from a bit torrent. But I think this will go even deeper.

[Frets]

Well lets see.

If you are an att subscriber. They own your router. They own the software which regulates your connection. They own the self diagnostic software. And thier browser (ie shell) regulates the bit parity. Yep they have access to your machine and know how much you download via what protocol.

[cancerinform]

AT&T is one of those money sucking cheating companies. When we came to the US we took AT&T, then later we changed. Over the years AT&T was the only local phone company left. I had some bad experience with upgrading some DSL. I am not surprised, they will make money with spying on us.

[TallGuyLittleCar]

Well lets see.

If you are an att subscriber. They own your router. They own the software which regulates your connection. They own the self diagnostic software. And thier browser (ie shell) regulates the bit parity. Yep they have access to your machine and know how much you download via what protocol.

that really isn't the whole story though. Even if you are not an at&t subscriber your data may still cross one of their machines on its way through the internets tubes. They do have every right to take a look at it.

[gerbick]

Well lets see.

If you are an att subscriber. They own your router. They own the software which regulates your connection. They own the self diagnostic software. And thier browser (ie shell) regulates the bit parity. Yep they have access to your machine and know how much you download via what protocol.

You forgot they own the majority of the backbone structure too. Non-AT&T subscribers are also affected.

[Frets]

I didn't forget. My first post was on them targeting cable companiy subscribers.