[Infowarrior] - AT&T Looking at Internet Filtering

[Richard Forno]

AT&T Looking at Internet Filtering
Wednesday January 23, 10:18 am ET

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080123/world_forum_at_t.html?.v=2

AT&T Looking at How to Monitor Internet Traffic to Prevent Sharing of
Copyrighted Content

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) -- AT&T Inc. is still evaluating whether to examine
traffic on its Internet lines to stop illegal sharing of copyright material,
its chief executive said Wednesday.

CEO Randall Stephenson told a conference at the World Economic Forum that
the company is looking at monitoring peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, one
of the largest drivers of online traffic but also a common way to illegally
exchange copyright files.

"It's like being in a store and watching someone steal a DVD. Do you act?"
Stephenson asked.

AT&T has talked about such plans since last summer. They represent a break
with the current practice of U.S. Internet service providers, who are
shielded by law from liability if their subscribers trade copyright files
like movies.

Stephenson said he still sees value in peer-to-peer networks despite some
problems. The networks are increasingly used for legally distributed files
like movie trailers and software.

Comcast Corp., the second largest U.S. Internet provider after AT&T, has
chosen another way to deal with the congestion caused by file-sharers, by
hampering some peer-to-peer traffic regardless of whether the content is
legal.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said earlier this month it would
investigate complaints from consumer groups and legal scholars that
Comcast's practice violates the open access principles of the Internet.