NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: CNN's use of "Octoshape" slips live video P2P into users' PCs
This is very important. Bob Frankston, in his usual single-minded focus on a blue sky dream of a telecom world without ISPs (a fascinating, though completely impractical concept for the forseeable future), has attempted to totally evade a critical point regarding CNN and Octoshape. He attempts to dismiss it with "one can argue against the particulars of Octoshape" and then tries to pivot over to his usual party line. The outside article that I referenced did include Brett Glass' tired and rather silly argument that applications like Octoshape steal bandwidth from ISPs. That's wrong of course. What they actually do -- if installed without affirmative understanding and permission of the computer owner, as is apparently the case with CNN's use of Octoshape -- is to subvert the users' PC and Internet connection. In essense, they steal bandwidth from the ISPs' subscribers -- and on the sly, too. This was the focus of my comments. Computer users are increasingly being required to install invasive software that has ulterior, often hidden functions, without full, clear, and obvious disclosure at installation time. In the case of CNN's Octoshape deployment, it appears (based on the reports I have currently) that no obvious and clear disclosure of the P2P video sharing nature of the program was made at installation (which could matter greatly to persons concerned not only about the privacy and security of their systems, but also about ISP-imposed bandwidth caps as well). Most users apparently believed that they were installing the software to watch live programming, but didn't understand that they were also giving CNN/Octoshape permission to share their personal or corporate bandwidth (and not in a small way, apparently) as well. To my way of thinking, that is behavior that really can be viewed as stealing from users, with nasty privacy and security implications as well. The very first, most critical rule of P2P has to be true, honest, fully-informed consent. Anything less is a recipe for potentially awful and even dangerous abuses. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren@vortex.com or lauren@pfir.org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/lauren Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com - - - > Begin forwarded message: > > From: "Bob Frankston" <Bob19-0501@bobf.frankston.com> > Date: February 5, 2009 10:28:08 AM EST > To: <dave@farber.net>, <nnsquad@nnsquad.org> > Cc: "'Dewayne Hendricks'" <dewayne@warpspeed.com>, "'Stephen Ronan'" > <sronan@panix.com> > Subject: RE: [ NNSquad ] CNN's use of "Octoshape" slips live video P2P > into users' PCs > > This seems more like the same old fear mongering we're used to from the > carriers. Perhaps one can argue against the particulars of Octoshape but > the story attacks the entire category of applications and, perhaps, the > very idea of running third party applications on our PCs. > > I'm more concerned about Daschle's patron, Leo Hindrey of Excite@Home, > than I am about CNN's attempt to advance connectivity. After all, it was > Exite@Home that warned us against abusing our privileges by using > webcams. Why suddenly this sympathy for that position? Shouldn't this > administration be stimulating use instead of giving into fear? ... ----- End forwarded message -----