Virgin - the first of many?

[madasahatter]

Virgin announce the introduction of a "three strikes" policy

Three strikes

[Simon]

That's a worrying scenario, not just for illegal downloaders, but for the ISPs they will flood to, who haven't adopted the policy. 

[madasahatter]

Yep - think they're the first to actually announce a policy, so the rest can't be far behind - it'd be commercial suicide otherwise. It will also be interesting to see how they enforce it - a taste of things to come methinks.

[David]

I never download illegal stuff  in fact don't really download anything but would still be affected

[madasahatter]

This is part of the problem David. As has been discussed here before, it hasn't been made clear what technology they are planning to use, and how they will recognise legitimate traffic as against illegal traffic. You can bet your bottom dollar that they will be blocking all sorts of stuff that they shouldn't be.

[David]

Rings bells of earlier.even I hope this is a non runner

[madasahatter]

UNfortunately, they have to be seen to be doing something - the Government has threatened legislation to force ISPs to do it otherwise. Like a lot of other things, the tech savvy will find ways round it, and the torrent client developers will come up with better encryption and/or other systems of file sharing.

It also hasn't been made clear whether, once having been kicked off the internet by an ISP, peeps will be able to sign up with another one, or whether you go on a "blacklist" whereby no other ISP will sign you up. There are still far too many unknowns in it all.

[Sebby]

Interesting.

[Lance]

[Inactive]

I would see it as a bonus for Virgin Customers stitched in to contracts, they can just download some iffy stuff, get booted, walk away.

[David]

theres a thought but there would surely be a tag against you which could stop you getting with another isp,put a block on the line or something.?

[Inactive]

That would open a huge can of worms.

[madasahatter]

theres a thought but there would surely be a tag against you which could stop you getting with another isp,put a block on the line or something.?

Well, to a large extent, what would be the point in an ISP booting you out otherwise? You'd just keep going round and round them. If that's not the case, then it really makes a nonsense of the whole thing.

[Rik]

OTOH, innocent until proven guilty... This would lead to a human rights case in short order if people were not able to connect with a new ISP.

[Gary]

This could set a precedent forcing the hand of other ISP's though

[Rik]

Though there will, no doubt, be a civil liberties action when the first person gets kicked off. It could backfire, with punitive damages being awarded against the ISP.

[Gary]

Though there will, no doubt, be a civil liberties action when the first person gets kicked off. It could backfire, with punitive damages being awarded against the ISP.

Sometimes civil liberties groups are great at shooting themselves in the foot 

[PhilT]

OTOH, innocent until proven guilty... This would lead to a human rights case in short order if people were not able to connect with a new ISP.

Except the Human Rights Act only applies to the actions of government, so there is no case at all to answer if one or more ISPs disconnect or refuse to provide service to an individual.

Phil

[Malc]

This is part of the problem David. As has been discussed here before, it hasn't been made clear what technology they are planning to use, and how they will recognise legitimate traffic as against illegal traffic. You can bet your bottom dollar that they will be blocking all sorts of stuff that they shouldn't be.

Tiscalli already do.

[Malc]

I bet Ricahard's sucking up to the gvmnt so he can get his mucky paws on Northern Rock on the cheap. 

[madasahatter]

Except the Human Rights Act only applies to the actions of government, so there is no case at all to answer if one or more ISPs disconnect or refuse to provide service to an individual.

Phil

Yep - like any service provider, an ISP could easily refuse to sign you up. Thta's why I wondered if there was gonna be some kind of database like the insurance companies use.

[Malc]

Refuse one or two, but when 50% of the population have been struck off, and want to sign up to someone, that's be money.

And we all know money talks, after all that's all this is about, Gordons not getting his 17.5%

[madasahatter]

Refuse one or two, but when 50% of the population have been struck off, and want to sign up to someone, that's be money.

And we all know money talks, after all that's all this is about, Gordons not getting his 17.5%

That's what makes me think that the rest of the big boys will be following suit pretty quickly. Virgin wouldn't want to deliberately hand their competitors punters on a plate.

And i think you're right about Gordon and his 17.5% - if there wasn't something in it for him, he wouldn't give a hoobs ass 

[somanyholes]

they really are taking the complete piss.

http://torrentfreak.com/isp-to-voluntarily-disconnect-file-sharers-from-the-internet-080331/

so, to round it off, they will boot you for p2p, e.g. torrents, but you can have free usenet access, to no doubt illegal material and thats allowed, wtf is going on here. I presume they are just trying to get rid of the uploaders due to the high costs involved of torrent uploads. crazy world ........ ohh and they will have your ip and username associated with that which you will have logged in with, to bust your ass in the future if they see fit.

[Rik]

It does seem they are trying to appease two opposing viewpoints, doesn't it.