So, I just received a letter today from my ISP, regarding a request for the disclosure of my personal information.
The complainant is alleging that I uploaded their copyrighted porn video using Bit torrent.
Here’s where it gets weird. First of all, the single video in question was apparently uploaded from my IP address in October 2022 – yep, 18 months ago.
Second, I don’t download porn. Why would anyone, when the internet is awash with it? I don’t download it, and I certainly never ever upload it. (I’m not saying that I never watch it, I’m no angel).
Third, I’m alleged to have perpetrated this upload at 1:30am on a Thursday morning. I’m never awake at that time, as I have to get up early for work.
My Wifi is password protected, I live alone. But I am genuinely innocent of this.
I have replied to my ISP to deny the disclosure, and have told them that I fear it’s some kind of scam.
Is it a scam? Why has it taken 18 months for the complainant to act? Has anyone else gone through something similar?
by Used-Librarian7841
7 comments
It’s not a scam. The official copyright holder (AV production company) usually check around if their AV is distributed via torrents. Then they get the list of IP address from the public torrent tracker, and started hunting the IP address from Japan. They probably went to the ISP and requested to get the owner of the IP address (probably through legal channel). Standard stuff here, that’s why it took them that long. ISP have to response to their request, that’s why you got the letter.
Now, it is possible that your public IP address is shared through your building or neighborhood. Or your IP address dynamically changed and it wasn’t you that uploaded it. Go to *iknowwhatyoudownload* dot com, you can see if your public IP address was found in open public torrent tracker.
There are lot of articles on the internet concerning whether you should deny the request or not. To be honest, I’m still not sure of the answer though. It’s still a voluntary request, but even if you deny it, if the company went to court and got permission, the ISP will still release your info…
People call things a scam too often these days. Anyway, to download your Linux distro images in a safer way:
– Never use your ISP’s DNS
– Never download torrent files (use magnet links)
– Never connecting to unencrypted peers
– Use one of the well-known block lists
Your ISP doesn’t want to make any efforts for the authorities. Make them work for it, and they won’t.
Do you use torrents of any kind?
Generally just avoid torrents like the plague unless you use VPN and ISPs are really anal about copyright infringement and will come down hard on your ass if they detect any kind of copyrighted material.
If you’re using IPv4 over IPv6 (map-e, IPoE, DS-Lite) then it’s likely your ISP is using CGNAT. If so, your IPv4 IP is shared by many ISP customers. I’d want to know how they determined it was you and not another customer before releasing info.
Is the AV company a famous one?
NAME THEM AND SHAME THEM
Save the rest of us from using their bs service.
I know this doesn’t really help you out but fun fact: Yoshiyuki Tomino, celebrated anime director and the creator of Gundam, got in trouble for this very same thing: His IP showing illegal downloads which he had no knowledge about because of a dynamic IP.