AT&T openly says it may filter Internet content
According to Brad Stone over at The New York Times, AT&T openly stated at CES that they may start filtering Internet content. This is a very big announcement because most ISPs (even Comcast) have up until this point claimed to be net neutral.
So much for being a wide-open pathway to the Information Superhighway. AT&T is reportedly talking to technology companies and the RIAA/MPAA regarding the implication of digital fingerprinting techniques at the networking level. Our friends at civil rights organizations are opposing such measures by implying that they impede on free speech. Some are going as far as to say that these legal provisions stop uses such as parody.
When asked about how their customers would respond to network level filtering, AT&T stated: "Whatever we do has to pass muster with consumers and with policy standards. There is going to be a spotlight on it."
Yeah, there will definitely be a spotlight. We say: Let the free market reign.
So much for being a wide-open pathway to the Information Superhighway. AT&T is reportedly talking to technology companies and the RIAA/MPAA regarding the implication of digital fingerprinting techniques at the networking level. Our friends at civil rights organizations are opposing such measures by implying that they impede on free speech. Some are going as far as to say that these legal provisions stop uses such as parody.
When asked about how their customers would respond to network level filtering, AT&T stated: "Whatever we do has to pass muster with consumers and with policy standards. There is going to be a spotlight on it."
Yeah, there will definitely be a spotlight. We say: Let the free market reign.













Comments
75
Subscribe to commentsToddJan 13th 2008 9:50PM
SBC acquired AT&T - FACT
TejJan 13th 2008 9:59PM
Good. That will save me the time, trouble & worry that my computer & my mind might get corrupted whether or not I choose yes or no to opening up to content that I get warned about in the first place according to my content blocking security set up.
Manny FreshJan 13th 2008 9:59PM
SBC owned cingular wireless, which purchased AT&T wireless, AT&T land line purchased SBC, therefore cingular is now known as the new at&t or at&t mobility..........
BillyJan 13th 2008 10:08PM
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is the largest provider of both local and long distance telephone services, wireless service, and DSL Internet access in the United States. AT&T is based in San Antonio, Texas, United States. Formerly SBC Communications, Inc., the company shed its name and took on the iconic AT&T moniker and the T stock-trading symbol (for "telephone") after its acquisition of American Telephone & Telegraph Company (later known as AT&T Corporation).
kittb1Jan 13th 2008 10:15PM
Manny Fresh said...
SBC owned cingular wireless, which purchased AT&T wireless, AT&T land line purchased SBC, therefore cingular is now known as the new at&t or at&t mobility..........
The first is correct but SBC also was the purchaser of AT&T land line. AT&T had more name recognition so SBC decided to use the most known name. AT&T is known globally.
BetteJan 13th 2008 10:12PM
AT&T sucks anyway. But I have them for my internet. If they pull the filtering stunt, it won't take me 30 seconds to cancel. Big Brother - no way.
keithJan 13th 2008 10:15PM
If you watch Countdown you already know that an ex employee of AT&T said that the NSA is sweeping all phone calls, all e-mails. With the help of AT&T and others. EVERY THING. Not just suspected terrorist. Vote Ron Paul, hope for America.
GaynellJan 14th 2008 12:54AM
Cingular wireless was Bell Atlantic before it became Cingular. I had thier service for a couple of years.
LynJan 13th 2008 10:46PM
Where we live we do not have a choice. Our only choice is Kanokla & they now are affiliated with AT&T. So our only choice would be not to have a telephone at all. So what can we do?
J-ManJan 13th 2008 10:26PM
I could care less who the 'BIG' corporate name is - if it has anything to do with AT&T it SUXs! The ad Cingular had for 'least dropped calls' I found pretty true - until AT&T took over. Now I have more dropped calls from 'network problems' than ever! I have purposefully not purchased AT&T landlines because of past problems, and all this stuff about 'filtering' access is BS. Ma Bell IS back! But seems with the economy the way it is that the 'small guy' isn't going to make it unless bought out by the 'big guy'.
heavensentJan 13th 2008 10:32PM
the "new att" has always been att/ma bell, they just used 'cingular' as a spin off of att wireless-cingular was a marketing tool to work out all the bugs of wireless in the u.s. while att worked on the international services in order to produce the "best network worldwide" hence "you're world delivered"
LynJan 13th 2008 10:44PM
Our cell phone company will soon be afilliated with AT&T & we have NO choice about it because of the remote area we live in. AT&T is starting to take over just like MaBELL had years ago. Were are they now, aren't part of AT&T?
ScotInvestorJan 13th 2008 10:42PM
Come on people...wake up! This monopoly is publicly announcing its filtering and betting no one has the balls to do anything about it...at the same time they are splitting mirrored duplicates of traffic through government back rooms to sniff on us...at the same time that FCC has pushed through (against popular dissent) mega media reconsolidation of airwaves and print. By AUGUST we will only be able to forage through whatever "they" provide for our information. If you have relatives in other countries, get a hold of them by snail mail and tell them to clear a spare bedroom for your family. The recession, along with a major catastophic event, will combine right before the election to shock and startle us all while "they throw the switch" and intelectually imprison this great country. Mark my words...its obvious to anyone with sight.
meJan 13th 2008 11:32PM
I can't believe that ATT would be permitted to do this. I am an adult and it is MY choice NOT yours to look or not look at WHATEVER it is out here. I do not need a babysitter for anything I choose to do. I have ATT phones and will jump to something else it this happens! I am so sick of everyone trying to get up in MY business one way or another. We are losing ALL of what the U.S. is all about FREEDOM!!!!
AnnieJan 13th 2008 11:50PM
Give me a choice on how I want to filter everything that comes to me - I will chose what I want to receive.....
Mary Helena EscobanJan 14th 2008 12:05AM
How can we get networking fingerprinting if they haven't invented it yet?
Another "Rolling Stone" for the networking executives.....
Wes AldersonJan 14th 2008 12:13AM
Hi People!
Correct me if I missed something in this blog conversation, but I think the same key word recognition and interception software that was used to ensnare suspected terrorists on satellite up and down links without a warrant has now been given to all the ISPs by the government along with the request that these ISPs help filter and that the ISPs are already filtering through ALL email and ALL telephone calls. Including this one. You undoubtedly know that all communications - - especially cell and wireless and digital data must route via satellite links these days. So it is SIMPLE for anybody with any knowledge of this subject to intercept any and all email and phone talk unless it encrypted with a random change factor. Heck I can do it myself.
Wes, Voicebucket2@aol.com
Michael L KuhneJan 14th 2008 12:23AM
I think that we should review the cdonstitution of the US, espercially those parts that include "freedom of speech" and "freedom of the press"
Heil MaBell!! Heil MaBell!! Heil MaBell!! Heil MaBell!! Heil MaBell!! Heil MaBell!! Heil MaBell!! Hewil MaBell! Heil MaBell!!
Nazism is bac;k in the form of MaBell
Catherine DusJan 14th 2008 12:35AM
AT&T does false advertisements with their high speed internet anyway. they give you a set price and then a few months pass by and they increase the rates without telling their consumers. it is time to find another ISP provider. They are just like Charter. Competition is what they are about to get in the future !
CathieJan 14th 2008 12:33AM
Interesting that AT&T pulls this after they purchased an adult website...they purchased Keen and NiteFlirt. LMAO Typical corporate crap.