Airports May Scan For Illegal Downloads on Mobile Devices

by Peter Mychalcewycz on July 20, 2008 at 01:39 PM

For anyone out there who has illegally downloaded music or movies, you may want to pay attention to this.

The leaders of the G8, meeting this week, are seemingly ready to ratify an agreement that would allow customs agents to search your mobile devices (computer, phone, iPod, etc.) for illegally downloaded media content.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta) is considered a step toward stopping piracy, but the logistics of implementing a discretionary system for carrying out the agreement are mind boggling. Consider this: Half of the songs on the average teen's iPod are illegally downloaded.

The biggest concern is that people who have downloaded media for personal use will be at risk of punishment, though no one knows exactly what the punishment would be. It has been reported however, that the European Parliament has suggested kicking offenders off the Internet.

The scenario most likely to materialize is that only those with massive amounts of MP3 or movie content would be at risk. Whatever way the G8 rules, one has to wonder what difference it will make. [Source: Textually]

Tags: mp3, privacy, security

Comments

RushingCarlJul 25th 2008 11:49PM

Neutral

This is queer this is invasion of privacy!!!

LETS START A RIOT!!!!

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ChaseJul 25th 2008 11:54PM

Neutral

Isnt it an invasion of privacy? Plus what about personal information? First your just going on vacation, next thing u have a TROGAN on your laptop, or the airline deleted all you songs. This would solve nothing but would create more problems.

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Sean CarterJul 26th 2008 4:30PM

Neutral

Instead fighting off the SERIOUS problems in the world, we check iPods for stolen content. It's ridiculous! I do not know one person in my life that actually pays for his downloads. $1 for every song i download? No thank you, music comes and goes. You get whatever is popular at the time, time passes and u want to get rid of it. I have close to 500 songs on my iPod and i sure as hell do not imagine myself paying $500 for them. First off, if piracy has to be stopped, why not target the companies of programs such as "Limewire,Bearshare,Morpheus." You cant expect people to not get involoved in this sort of thing if it's this easy to obtain!
If this G8 B.S. happens, when exactly are they going to start searching? I rather be safe than sorry.

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Sean CarterJul 26th 2008 4:31PM

Neutral

Leave the people alone on their flights! Everyone is already worried about explosives and terrorists, now they have to worry about getting their iPod's onto the plane without getting caught. Piracy only leads to Bimbo singers like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton not getting a 20th body gaurd because 200 people downloaded their songs illegally instead of buying their albums! 50 cent not getting his 500th prescription bottle of HGH because too many people downloaded his album off line. Big deal! These retarded superstars live their life in luxury, not worrying about a single thing while countries such as Africa are suffering from AIDs and hunger!

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JonJul 26th 2008 1:21AM

Neutral

wow just wow, there are so many holes in this its hilarious, theres no way they can do this, and i dont get whats the big deal with illegal downloads i mean come one first of all most artists poeple listen to today have money to spare, even the companies, second its not different from lgetting music from library cds or a freinds cd third we can listen to music for free already its called YOUTUBE the way i see it is that getting songs in an easier to carry packge is no different

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Sean ThaiJul 26th 2008 2:48AM

Neutral

really this is the most pathetic thing, this will be stopped soon enough they already passing laws that restrict employers from checking employee's texts, this will be next on list

by the way this is probably some pathetic announcement that they are saying just to scare people off, let alone do it

i wanna see them scan my SanDisk Sansa

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SkylarJul 26th 2008 2:54AM

Neutral

If you are that worried abuot getting caught, just dont bring your ipod...problem solved.

they have SO many other things to look for at airports such as bomb, guns, knives ect i dont see how they have the time to look for illegal music aswell

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AyoyojJul 26th 2008 5:36AM

Neutral

Its very interesting that people are actually thinking this is a good thing. (I dont owe a mp3 player of any kind). Checking for songs today, people followling you around tomorow. We as people have to say ''LEAVE US ALONE!''. I can understand the government wants to ''track'' people but if someone wants to blow themselfs up, THEY WILL, reguardless of what you and me do. Back when Nixon was president we went hard on him, but today most of us are just wimps and dont have any balls. If you want your freedoms to go away fine, but dont think that way in my country, go to Russia and live your happy go lucky lifes ''safe'' while the smart people here take action and enjoy life like it should be.

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