07 July 2013

US ISP Can Monitor File-Sharing Traffic

At the moment, there are quite a few BitTorrent traffic monitoring firms and systems out there, but AT&T seems to make a premiere as the first Internet service provider to get a patent under which the company is allowed to monitor file-sharing traffic.

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The innovative system is supposed to be used by AT&T to predict monitor network congestion before occurring. However, another possible use of it is to check out what material is very popular with pirates on file-sharing portals.

Recently, AT&T has adopted a “six-strikes” anti-piracy program which means that an Internet subscriber alleged of downloading copyrighted content gets 6 warnings before having their Internet connection terminated.

Industry observers have created a chart which allows to better understand how the new system works. According to it, AT&T will maintain RSS feeds of torrents that it could end up downloading and then search through. Although the names of the files will play a huge role in what the system detects as illegal content, it will still go one step further and dig into the file to make sure it is really what it says it is, because everyone knows there can be just a virus hiding under the latest Hollywood blockbuster name.

Apparently, the ISP’s technology will appeal to rights holders because of its possibilities and that they will be able to “convince” the broadband provider (if necessary) to use it as a method to reduce Internet piracy.

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