U.K: If you download any pirated material like books, music, television shows or films, you will be tracked because broadband providers BT, Virgin Media, BSkyB and Talk Talk have been asked to create a database registering customers that download pirated materials.
According to The Guardian, the broadband providers — some of whom have already blocked access to torrent indexing websites including The Pirate Bay, no matter how easy the blocks are to circumvent — have been asked to consider new ways to deter the high rates of illegal content downloads.
Internet providers have been asked by Record Label to sign up to a voluntary code of conduct which would keep records of those customers who download pirated material from the Internet. If they track, customer will receive a warning letter to stop, after that if customer continues to download pirated materials up-to 3 times, they may find their Internet speeds throttled, website access blocked, or potential prosecution for persistent illegal downloading.
The new measures, which would require storing data on customers who download content illegally, may also need a change in law. Under the Data Protection Act, such information can only be held about individuals when related to “commercial purposes,” rather than to record apparently illegal activity.
Virgin Media trialed a campaign — no longer operating — to send out letters to customers who use their broadband to download illegal content in 2008. The firm also blocks websites under court orders like other ISPs in the U.K., but does not hand inf
Emma Hutchinson, a Virgin Media spokeswoman, told ZDNet:
“Music and film companies are speaking to broadband providers about how to address illegal file-sharing but what they’re currently proposing is unworkable.”
A spokeswoman for TalkTalk told The Guardian:
“We are involved in discussions about measures to address illegal file-sharing and ultimately would like to reach a voluntary agreement. However our customers’ rights always come first and we would never agree to anything that could compromise them.”
You can follow a detailed report on this by ZDNet
DON’T try to download pirated material