| Big Bother to watch illegal file sharers
Big brother to watch illegal file sharers - tech - 24 July 2008 - New Scientist Tech Quote:
UK residents illegally sharing music and films online will receive letters warning them their behaviour is being monitored, under a new government plan drawn up with the country's six biggest internet service providers.
Letters will be sent during a three-month trial, warning downloaders that they are being monitored. Many of the letters will be sent to parents unaware their children are sharing files online. More than 6 million Britons are thought to illegally download files each year.
The telecommunications regulator Ofcom will work with ISPs and media companies to decided on a course of action should the warnings have no effect. Options may include a "three-strikes-and-you're-out" system, or filtering to prevent illegal tracks from being downloaded.
The government and ISPs Virgin Media, BSkyB, Carphone Warehouse, BT, Orange and Tiscali say they are aiming for a "significant reduction" in the illegal sharing of content.
Fee warning
Media reports suggest the government would levy a £30 fee on every internet connection to compensate music and film companies, if the letter-writing scheme fails to cut illegal file sharing.
| Thoughts on filesharing? Is this the end for Brits? Is it about time or has the UK government overstepped its boundaries?
I think it goes without saying the any suggestion to invade Canada is mind-numbingly stupid. |