PiracyWatch: Regulators and Consumers Pushing Back Against ISP Monitoring

Posted by Eriq Gardner

Recently, ISPs like AT&T and Comcast have started to aggressively monitor content piracy on their networks. This week may mark the beginning of a strong push-back to that program.

Take Comcast for example.

Yesterday in Washington, a federal class action was filed against Comcast for falsely advertising that it "does not block access to any Web sites or online applications, including peer-to-peer services." The ad is "patently false," says the complaint.

The same day, it was revealed that the New York Attorney General has issued a subpoena to Comcast, requesting information on the company's handling of Internet traffic.

Meanwhile, up in Cambridge, Mass., the FCC held a public hearing on this issue and said it is ready to step in to enforce the agency's "open Internet" policies.