A UK ISP has suspended the accounts of a number of customers it suspects have been involved in file-sharing activity.
Karoo, which is based in Hull and run by telecommunications supplier Kingston Communications, said it will act on any complaints from copyright owners that their content is being illegally shared. If it can confirm the illegal file-sharing activity, it will suspend the users account.
To ensure their service is restored, users that have been suspend must sign an agreement letter stating they will not participate in illegal downloading again.
Karroo described the move as "the responsible approach".
Nick Thompson, director of consumer and publishing services at Kingston Communications, the parent company of the ISP, told the BBC:"There are no benefits for us. In fact, when we cut off customers we're actually reacting against our own interests because we don't charge customers for that period when the service is suspended."
Kingston Communications, which is the primary supplier of telecommunications and data services to the area, is the only UK ISP so far that has taken such drastic action to tackle internet piracy.
However, the ISP's scheme has been slammed by digital rights groups.
Jim Killock, executive director of The Open Rights Group said: "It's totally unfair to disconnect people without giving them any warning at all. In fact, disconnection is something that should only even possibly be considered as a result of court action".
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Comments
mr angry said: they also charge you 10 to downgrade your phone service and 5 for late payments everyone in hull should cancel kc and go mobile
Despondent of Hull said: Wholeheartedly agree with 1337 another problem is that KCs control of use of their infrastructure isnt very good anyway with a lot of peoples accounts seeming to have been hijacked in the past by spammers KCs advice to me was We cant stop people sending mail that appears to have come from your account so we suggest that you turn off notification of undeliverable mail then you wont have to deal with the messages relating to bounced spam
1337 said: Karoo have bullied customers in hull for yrs with high prices on Net packages Kingston are breaking the law on many fronts in hull by not allowing fair competition from BTVirgin The customers are sick of it but no other company can come into Hull because of kingstons strangle hold But be warned Kingston fair trade are investigating your actions