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Q&A: Disconnecting file-sharers Q&A: Disconnecting file-sharers
(about 20 hours later)
By Darren Waters Technology editor, BBC News website Illegal file-sharing has become endemic among some usersBy Darren Waters Technology editor, BBC News website Illegal file-sharing has become endemic among some users
The UK's creative industries want the government to force Internet Service Providers to disconnect persistent illegal file-sharers. It is the latest step in a battle to stem the flow of internet piracy.The UK's creative industries want the government to force Internet Service Providers to disconnect persistent illegal file-sharers. It is the latest step in a battle to stem the flow of internet piracy.
What are the UK creative industries asking for?What are the UK creative industries asking for?
Eight bodies representing the creative industries - among them the UK music industry, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, and trade five unions, including the Musicians' Union - want the government to force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to warn and ultimately disconnect persistent illegal file-sharers. Nine bodies representing the creative industries - among them the UK music industry, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, and trade five unions, including the Musicians' Union - want the government to force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to warn, throttle the speed of connection and ultimately disconnect persistent illegal file-sharers.
They want a commitment to stopping file-sharing and the responsibility for doing so to be placed on the ISPs and for that to be enshrined in legislation.They want a commitment to stopping file-sharing and the responsibility for doing so to be placed on the ISPs and for that to be enshrined in legislation.
What do the Internet Service Providers say?What do the Internet Service Providers say?
ISPs have long said they do not want to become the internet police, and have also pointed out that under the law as it stands they are mere conduits of the traffic on the net.ISPs have long said they do not want to become the internet police, and have also pointed out that under the law as it stands they are mere conduits of the traffic on the net.
The full-time role of monitoring traffic on their networks would also have a financial and resource impact.The full-time role of monitoring traffic on their networks would also have a financial and resource impact.
The ISPs already have a voluntary agreement in place, which sees them send letters to users they suspect of sharing content illegally.The ISPs already have a voluntary agreement in place, which sees them send letters to users they suspect of sharing content illegally.
The networks also do not want to be seen to be disconnecting their own users.The networks also do not want to be seen to be disconnecting their own users.
What is the government's stance?What is the government's stance?
The government has repeatedly warned the ISPs to crack down on illegal file-sharers, but has stopped short of telling them to disconnect users.The government has repeatedly warned the ISPs to crack down on illegal file-sharers, but has stopped short of telling them to disconnect users.
Earlier this year, the UK's Intellectual Property minister, David Lammy, said the government would not force internet service providers to pursue file sharers.Earlier this year, the UK's Intellectual Property minister, David Lammy, said the government would not force internet service providers to pursue file sharers.
"We can't have a system where we're talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms," he told The Times newspaper."We can't have a system where we're talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms," he told The Times newspaper.
How big a problem is illegal file-sharing in the UK?How big a problem is illegal file-sharing in the UK?
The creative industries estimate that six million people regularly file-share copyright content without permission.The creative industries estimate that six million people regularly file-share copyright content without permission.
In 2007, an estimated one billion music tracks and 98 million movies were shared illegally.In 2007, an estimated one billion music tracks and 98 million movies were shared illegally.
It has been reported that more than half of all traffic on the net in the UK is content being shared illegally.It has been reported that more than half of all traffic on the net in the UK is content being shared illegally.
How will ISPs detect illegal file-sharers?How will ISPs detect illegal file-sharers?
ISPs routinely monitor traffic sent over their network, for maintenance and security purposes.ISPs routinely monitor traffic sent over their network, for maintenance and security purposes.
While it is relatively simple to monitor traffic sent using file-sharing programs, it is technically more challenging to know what exactly is being shared.While it is relatively simple to monitor traffic sent using file-sharing programs, it is technically more challenging to know what exactly is being shared.
At present, content rights owners tend to monitor websites which offer links to copyright content and then obtain the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the online computer being used to share that data.At present, content rights owners tend to monitor websites which offer links to copyright content and then obtain the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the online computer being used to share that data.
ISPs tend to own blocks of IP addresses, so it is relatively simple to identify the broadband account holder that is tied to a particular IP address at a particular time.ISPs tend to own blocks of IP addresses, so it is relatively simple to identify the broadband account holder that is tied to a particular IP address at a particular time.
But this is a slow, and time-consuming procedure. One solution is to employ deep packet inspection (DPI) to look at the content of the "packets" of data being sent over the net.But this is a slow, and time-consuming procedure. One solution is to employ deep packet inspection (DPI) to look at the content of the "packets" of data being sent over the net.
The ISP can employ DPI to examine the contents of shared data and then using digital fingerprinting technology to see if the file is being exchanged with consent or not.The ISP can employ DPI to examine the contents of shared data and then using digital fingerprinting technology to see if the file is being exchanged with consent or not.
Will banning persistent file-sharers work?Will banning persistent file-sharers work?
The creative industries believe illegal file-sharing is almost endemic while the government has set a target of reducing the problem by at least 70% in the next two or three years.The creative industries believe illegal file-sharing is almost endemic while the government has set a target of reducing the problem by at least 70% in the next two or three years.
The difficulty is that the problem is a moving target. More persistent file-sharers are already beginning to use software which masks their IP address while online, and the files being exchanged are encrypted, so it is harder for ISPs to use DPI technology.The difficulty is that the problem is a moving target. More persistent file-sharers are already beginning to use software which masks their IP address while online, and the files being exchanged are encrypted, so it is harder for ISPs to use DPI technology.
However, the music and film industries are more likely attempting to target the "soft, underbelly" of file-sharing: the teenagers who are doing it because they are either apathetic or believe they can get away with it.However, the music and film industries are more likely attempting to target the "soft, underbelly" of file-sharing: the teenagers who are doing it because they are either apathetic or believe they can get away with it.