You might remember that I mentioned that the Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) method that Bell uses to throttle its users has other uses, and that Internet users should be scared of this? Here’s a practical example of this. Charter Communications in the name of providing an “enhanced online experience” is going to be using DPI to provide its users with targeted ads based on their web surfing and web searching activities.
But it gets better, you can opt-out of this stupidity. All you have to do is go to an UNSECURED website, typing in your personal info, and accept a cookie which indicates that you’ve opted-out. Ignoring the fact that your personal info is going to who knows where, if you ever lose that cookie you’ll have to go through the whole process again on the same UNSECURED website.
So to recap, Charter Communications will target ads to me based on my porn surfing and Googling activities? Plus the burden is placed on me to opt-out via some half-assed system that wasn’t thought out beforehand?
All together now: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
I hope Canadians are paying attention to this. IMHO, this is a clear example as to why the privacy complaint (warning: PDF) that was filed yesterday by the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic is so important. It is NOT the concern of my ISP what I do online and any attempt to change that should be met with fierce resistance. We expect some amount of privacy when we use phones for example, so why not the Internet? Why is that any different?
It isn’t.
If you’re Canadian, show your support for the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic complaint. If you’re a Charter customer, show your displeasure by moving to another ISP and tell them why you’re moving.
By doing that, it will send a clear message that this is completely unacceptable.
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This entry was posted on May 13, 2008 at 2:26 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Net Neutrality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Charter Uses DPI To Spy On Its Users….. Canada Are You Paying Attention?
You might remember that I mentioned that the Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) method that Bell uses to throttle its users has other uses, and that Internet users should be scared of this? Here’s a practical example of this. Charter Communications in the name of providing an “enhanced online experience” is going to be using DPI to provide its users with targeted ads based on their web surfing and web searching activities.
But it gets better, you can opt-out of this stupidity. All you have to do is go to an UNSECURED website, typing in your personal info, and accept a cookie which indicates that you’ve opted-out. Ignoring the fact that your personal info is going to who knows where, if you ever lose that cookie you’ll have to go through the whole process again on the same UNSECURED website.
So to recap, Charter Communications will target ads to me based on my porn surfing and Googling activities? Plus the burden is placed on me to opt-out via some half-assed system that wasn’t thought out beforehand?
All together now: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
I hope Canadians are paying attention to this. IMHO, this is a clear example as to why the privacy complaint (warning: PDF) that was filed yesterday by the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic is so important. It is NOT the concern of my ISP what I do online and any attempt to change that should be met with fierce resistance. We expect some amount of privacy when we use phones for example, so why not the Internet? Why is that any different?
It isn’t.
If you’re Canadian, show your support for the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic complaint. If you’re a Charter customer, show your displeasure by moving to another ISP and tell them why you’re moving.
By doing that, it will send a clear message that this is completely unacceptable.
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This entry was posted on May 13, 2008 at 2:26 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Net Neutrality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.