Comcast Allegedly Asking Customers to Stop Using Tor

An anonymous reader writes Comcast agents have reportedly contacted customers who use Tor and said their service can get terminated if they don't stop using Tor. According to Deep.Dot.Web, one of those calls included a Comcast customer service agent who allegedly called Tor an “illegal service.” The Comcast agent told the customer that such activity is against usage policies. The Comcast agent then allegedly told the customer: "Users who try to use anonymity, or cover themselves up on the internet, are usually doing things that aren’t so-to-speak legal. We have the right to terminate, fine, or suspend your account at anytime due to you violating the rules. Do you have any other questions? Thank you for contacting Comcast, have a great day." Update: 09/15 18:38 GMT by S : Comcast has responded, saying they have no policy against Tor and don't care if people use it.

Comments

Re:So-to-speak legal

[DigiShaman]

Into the frying pan, into the fire. You really want the Internet to be a "utility". Oh, that sounds all nice until Big Government starts regulating all sorts of shit. The first to go will be anonymous activity under the guise of "homeland security". In reality, to stifle political free speech and may *you* fear pissing off the opposition.

Be damn careful what you wish for. Be DAMN CAREFUL!!!!

Re:So-to-speak legal

[DarkOx]

You really are naive! I am not saying big cable is great but big government control and regulation of the internet will be far worse.

Anonymous anything will be the first to go! The legal ( and its sound reasoning ) will be sure the first amendment provides you can say pretty much anything you want but it says nothing about you being able to do it in anonymity.

The next issue is going to probable cause, uploading to much? Well you must be a criminal copyright violator and their will be be a warrant to search your computer so fast your head is gonna spin.

You don't want Government to have that kinda of control Look at Turkey's internet crack down! Things started getting a little interesting in the middle east and suddenly bam! not internet freedoms for you. Think it won't happen here? Looks at Schenck v. United States and the Espionage acts. Consider all the crazy provision is the PATRIOT act nobody has been able to over turn! Sure the courts might eventually come to some kind of sense and fix things but that can take decades!

Anyone with any awareness of history AT ALL should not want a government controlled internet. If you want the Federal government to do anything maybe it should forcing ISPs like Comcast who have infrastructure that depends on granted monopoly rights easements and the like be operated as common carriers but you definitely don't want them any more involved than that!