Subject URL: Optus snoops on downloads

Optus@Home are randomly watching user downloads and are executing their right to terminate accounts of users downloads pirate material (thanks for the article Dave). I'm extreamly tempted to go on a legal MP3 download splurg and see if they complain. Or maybe I'll buy a video download and see if they complain about the 500 Meg spike on my download log. My current guess is that they'd much more likely be spying on those doing massive downloads a month and see if it is pirated material (ie. movies, entire CDs etc.).

Most of what I download/upload is official or semi-official (tolerated fan sites) MP3s, my own MP3s. Although the main reason I don't hit the Napsters anymore is that I can't get any of them to work to my satisfaction. Morpheus, WinMX, LimeWire, AudioGalaxy all either won't connect or are horribly slow and empty of content.

I do still trade with friends though through various methods. If Optus were to cut me off they'd be losing one of their best customers. The kind of customer who is happy to pay for the service but is barely ever home to use it.