There are ways around it though. So fuck the government.
Today the governments Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act, colloquially know as the Skynet Act, comes into effect, as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in New Zealand start to log internet users copyright 'infringements'.
The amendment becomes law on the 1st of September but ISPs can use activity detected 21 days before this date in any infringement notices issued from the 1st of September.
The initial detection of 'illegal' file-sharing is done by the 'rights holder' - think of of large media conglomerates such as Sony, Disney, Time-Warner - who then contact ISPs with 'activity' they think may be suspect.
The main target of these media companies are users of bittorent, a peer-to-peer filesharing system that distributed files over a network of computers. Multinationals have previously contracted out this detection to companies such as MediaDefender and the RIAA and will certainly be using companies like these here in New Zealand.
The main tactic used by these contractors to catch bittorrent users is by intentionally sharing copyrighted material and then logging the ip address of every computer that downloads from them. These ip addresses are given to internet users by their ISPs, who now, under the Skynet Act, have to divulge the name and contact details of the real user to rights holders.
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That is how they operate, buy or bully whatever they want.
Sounds good but in this country if the courts don't produce the 'correct' outcome, the lobbyists try to pass a law though parliament.
A recent wikileak has revealed some sheer bastardry:
1) They targeted a smallish ISP with less money to fight back.
2) They tried to hide the fact that they were the MPAA - they used some Aussie companies as the face of the trial.
3) They are pretty cozy with the government.
http://www.wikileaks.org/cable/2008/11/08CANBERRA1197.html
Our government has always had access to our ISPs. But that access is pointless without a law passed stating they can use it. They also kept it quiet from the public. Apparently, once they sign over full access to them, it's impossible to turn back.
My previous ISP made the mistake by letting some information slip out. What they don't tell the public is they have all links we view. I had a B&M about my speed & mentioned if they were monitoring yet. He said the law hadn't passed yet & they didn't have access to what we viewed, just how much bandwidth was being used. i quoted something from a blog I was reading about government monitoring, like a dumbass he said he was reading it @ the moment. WTF! i didn't mention what blog I was on or the url. Are you monitoring my internet? He's like, 'Aaahh I'll get my supervisor to contact you'.