AT&T Adds New Patent That Can Detect File Sharing and Block Access to File Sharing Sites ~ Bauer-Power Media

Dec 17, 2013

AT&T Adds New Patent That Can Detect File Sharing and Block Access to File Sharing Sites

7:00 PM

Paul B

(Photo credit: ElectronicFrontierFoundation)

Do you share files? Do you download files via bit torrent? Do you use AT&T as your Internet provider? Well get ready for their latest patent that allows them to detect file-sharers on their network, perform risk assessment of said files, and limit access to file sharing sites!

From RT:

Internet service provider AT&T recently added a new anti-piracy patent which features technology that can detect file-sharers on its own network, assigning risk assessment to users and potentially limiting alleged pirates’ access to file-sharing sites.

A new patent awarded to the telecom giant’s Intellectual Property division depicts a system that can classify unauthorized file-sharing users, designate them within a “risk category,” and take actions to counter future objectionable behavior.

The patent, titled “Methods, devices and computer program products for regulating network activity using a subscriber scoring system,” seems mostly aimed at combating online piracy - an ongoing target of internet service providers like AT&T, entertainment lobby groups such as the MPAA, and the Obama administration alike.

In the article there is no mention of using VPN services like TorrentPrivacy to keep your ISP from snooping on your file sharing activities though. I would venture to say that if you are using a VPN service you will probably be safe because those tunnels are encrypted which prevents ISP's like AT&T from seeing what you are really doing.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!