Virgin Media is trialling a scheme that will identify whether its broadband customers are illegally downloading.
The ISP is using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to identify the type of traffic (email, web surfing, gaming etc) a broadband connection is being used for.
Any file-sharing activity will be then be checked against a database of music and films.
According to Detica, which is working with Virgin Media on the system, it can identify whether the download is simply family photos or a music album, and if so the artist and title.
However, the IP address - which would identify the customer that is taking part in file-sharing, is currently ignored by the system.
Virgin Media told the Times the "technology hasn't been designed for that" in regards to identifying illegal downloaders, and instead allows the ISP "to understand the exact nature of unlawful traffic on our network".
The ISP hasn't ruled out identifying the IP address using the technology in the future.
This would help to implement Lord Peter Mandelson's proposals to tackle internet piracy, which will see repeat offenders booted off the web after receiving warning letters.
Virgin also said it wasn't breaking UK law as the customer remains anonymous.
See also: Kids as young as 6 illegally downloading
Comments
Mick said: As a Virgin Media Customer I find it unbelievable that I hear about this on here rather than from my ISP This sounds like Phorm with another name to me time to look for another ISP
Dan Bloor said: I agree with Dan What a legend
Ollie Bryan said: Dan Bloor is such a wang
Someone not fooled by the prop said: DPI is designed from its foundation to identify IP addresses All one has to do is change a setting to turn it on and offThe nameless Virgin spokesman surely knows this and much of the public has known it for years After all privacy and efforts to infringe upon it have been an ongoing issue in the press and in online social networks common to peer-to-peer usersUnfortunately for Detica the encryption in most P2P software reduces available data to little more than IP addresses and clues to which software is in use protecting the content from this illegal eavesdropping Many have been using encryption for years so pointless announcements like this one will merely cause more people will be doing the same just to protect themselves Given the EU position on extralegal prosecutions and on case law so far it is probable that this plan will run afoul of the law again In the meantime people can protect their privacy by turning on encryption and making it mandatory
Skidz said: Use Encryption i have for many years Encryption techniques are getting great Paid for ones esp
Roger Suffolk said: The government should chase REAL criminals Artists record companies etc earn fortunes now ripping us all off amp have done for years This of course is once more about MONEY amp easy targets Theres no income from chasing rapists burglars muggers etc is there Its just another CASH COW
Simon Phillips said: What about legal downloads say from iTunes or Spotify - would they be identified by DPI and if so how could they be differentiated from illegal file sharing
JP said: Dan Bloor raises an intresting point and from what I understand about the Privacy Act this would be correct However it would be in their best intrest to monitor and report any such occurances as they would be guilty by association for not doing soIn saying that I to would find it questionable if they started to monitor IP addresses without any due cause or legal authority for doing so
Squillary said: It wouldnt be a breach if the contents were found to be illegal and it appears an IP check would only be done if illegal contents are discovered and ISPs are effectively being unwittingly made accessories Sounds good to me
Cyteck said: For any ISP to implement deep packet inspection literally examining the content of each data packet as data passes through its network it must be costing them a huge amount of money to implement such a scheme The cost alone of implementing DPI would put off only the most wealthy ISPs DPI can differentiate between encrypted amp non encrypted packets so Im not sure what the implications of that are in this situation though
Steve said: If the postman starts looking through your postcards you start sending letters Use encryption
Dan Bloor said: Ok let me get this right Virgin are saying that IP addresses are being ignored If they check the IPs would this be breaching Privacy act of 1974