is it illegal to track what someone downloads?

[lifer9]

i understand if u r sharing some files and someone catches you, but i was wondering can the RIAA or whoever track exactly what you download or could that be an invasion of privacy?

[notbob]

they can't

and don't

they look at what you UPLOAD, and couldn't give a flying fuck what you download

[cheapprick]

Theoretically, yes they could find out everything you have ever looked at on the internet if whoever was looking had the power.

The RIAA can't tell what you download short of

*A - Providing the file for you to download, or in other words ~ entrapment
* B - Checking your shared folder


They don't have the ability (yet) to tell what you are downloading. They just don't have the authority. The FBI, and several other government agencies, know what you download if they care to.

[maartendc]

They can see what you have downloaded, if you're unlucky, by looking in what you're sharing. If you're not sharing anything, which is not advisable (its the whole point of p2p to share), then I suppose they can't...

And whether it's an invasion of your privacy, you gotta make that out for yourself...

I believe it is, because I could be sharing things for my friends to donwload, that are somewhat private... But then again, anyone using the program would be invading your privacy...

Personally, I don't give one little shit about them, caus I don't live in the Usa, and my ISP is cool about donwloading...

[aqlo]

Presently nobody cares what you download except federal agents dealing kiddie porn. Only recently did personal-use shared uploads become a concern, and that's still being tested legally. Uploads for profit can and always will get you in trouble.

[ozamosi]

theres no point knowing what you download, since you are alowed to download things you own, or that is free. if they sue you for downloading the latest britney singel, you can just go and buy it, and then the download is legal. the illegal part is to upload.

[notbob]

Originally posted by ozamosi
theres no point knowing what you download, since you are alowed to download things you own, or that is free. if they sue you for downloading the latest britney singel, you can just go and buy it, and then the download is legal. the illegal part is to upload.

total bullshit

the actual fair use directives relating to downloading have not even been determined yet

that being said, the industry's argument is this--uploading is an illegal broadcast, like an unlicensed rebroadcast of major leage baseball without the expressed consent of MLB (ever hear that after a ball game?)

you can tape all the games you want, as long as you don't rebroadcast them--same with mp3 or whatever--possession is not illegal, even if you don't own the rights, but uploading (or selling) without the rights is a big nono

[Soothsayer]

According to the RIAA from a recent interview with one of their lawyers I believe, you can only download tracks of something that you own on CD, and only if that song is the exact song (length, no remixes, same album, etc). If you are downloading other songs which you own on cassette or some other media, and they are of higher quality and more portable, that is wrong according to the RIAA.

Just thought you might like to know. Yes, it IS TOTAL CRAP. But that is what they said.

[isus]

they have companies that provide spoofs, and i would bet that they harvest ip's from there and check them out... but they have no way of telling what you are downloading, short of hacking into your computer, placing a trojan, or otherwise. i'm pretty sure all the ways they could actually tell what you are downloading, are illegal.

[crackerjacker]

well they can tell what your downloading on this condition. *if they are hosting the file and uploading it to you*.

[random nut]

Originally posted by crackerjacker
well they can tell what your downloading on this condition. *if they are hosting the file and uploading it to you*.

If they do that, they're inviting you to download the file, and thus the file you're downloading should be considered a free gift from the RIAA.

[Psilaxs]

(Never thought i would say this)

Listen to notbob people, he is absolutely correct.

It doesn't needs to be expounded upon any further.

Uploading= BAD
Downloading = Benign

[notbob]

has hell frozen over already?

i never thought i'd see that particular combination of words under your username

[crackerjacker]

has hell frozen over already?

i never thought i'd see that particular combination of words under your username
----
hehe
nope hell hasnt frozen over yet
*but for the riaa it has, as they will lose tons more money*.

[Psilaxs]

Originally posted by notbob
has hell frozen over already?

i never thought i'd see that particular combination of words under your username

LOL Me either.

Politics aside, I infact do agree with you on most things.
(Even peoples stupidity) Im just not as straight forward about as you.