Virgin Media To Spy On & Threaten Downloaders

Mike writes "Virgin Media, the UK's largest cable-modem provider, has decided that it will spy on its users to protect record industry profits. Starting next week Virgin Media will send letters to thousands of households where they suspect music is either being downloaded or illegally shared. The campaign is a joint venture between Virgin Media and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which represents the major record labels. The BPI ultimately wants Internet companies to implement a 'three strikes and out' rule to warn and ultimately disconnect the estimated 6.5 million customers whose accounts are (supposedly) used for regular criminal activity. In other words, you download a few songs and they'll come along and cut off the one wire that delivers freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly."

Comments

What's wrong with this?

[diehard2]

I realize this will be an unpopular opinion on slashdot... However, the fact is these people are stealing. There is no justification for downloading "free" music. Its not free, its just convenient. I don't get the difference between downloading with P2P and seeing a sidewalk sale and walking off with CDs. Three warnings and cutting off internet access seems to be reasonable. I think the US companies are a bit draconian with lawsuits, however a misdemeanor similar to shoplifting with a small fine would be warranted if someone is doing this. Seriously, if you want unlimited music, sign up for Rhapsody. Its not that expensive.

Re:Hyperbole

[sm62704]

For those who are unclear on the definition of "hyperbole", please read the above quoted sentence.

For those who are unclear on the definition of bullshit, please read the linked bullshit.

The summary is not, in fact, hyperbole. You should consult a dictionary. This is the 21st century. Today we use the internet as our medium of speech, press, and assembly. There is no exageration whatever when the GP says that the ISP owns the one wire that delivers those three freedoms to us.

There is no other way besides the internet to make my views known to more than a few people. Until the internet, freedom of the press was restricted to those with the money to buy a press. Your freedom of assembly was restricted to physicality.

Now that I and my fellow peons have freedom of the press, speech, and assembly, that the rich bastards who have owned knowedge, its dissimination, and indeed freedom itself have always had, they're scared shitless.

Well, not quite shitless, as the bullshit I'm responding to can attest. But drowning us normal people (peons) in bullshit is what the rich have always done. The ionternet gives US a shovel.

Re:I agree

[Macthorpe]

How about you don't confuse copyright violations with freedom of the press.

I'll ask you to do something useful now - use one account instead of playing the 'dreadfully easy multiple accounts game'. You've replied to me with two different accounts now (including the one you copied from mine) and there's a third one down the page. Is it actually fucking necessary to have more than one account, or do you just not like being held accountable for the horseshit you write?