At the moment, there are quite a few BitTorrent traffic monitoring
firms and systems out there, but AT&T seems to make a premiere as the
first Internet service provider to get a patent under which the
company is allowed to monitor file-sharing traffic.
The innovative system is supposed to be used by AT&T to predict
monitor network congestion before occurring. However, another possible
use of it is to check out what material is very popular with pirates
on file-sharing portals.
Recently, AT&T has adopted a “six-strikes” anti-piracy program which
means that an Internet subscriber alleged of downloading copyrighted
content gets 6 warnings before having their Internet connection
terminated.
Industry observers have created a chart which allows to better
understand how the new system works. According to it, AT&T will
maintain RSS feeds of torrents that it could end up downloading and
then search through. Although the names of the files will play a huge
role in what the system detects as illegal content, it will still go
one step further and dig into the file to make sure it is really what
it says it is, because everyone knows there can be just a virus hiding
under the latest Hollywood blockbuster name.
Apparently, the ISP’s technology will appeal to rights holders because
of its possibilities and that they will be able to “convince” the
broadband provider (if necessary) to use it as a method to reduce
Internet piracy.