Internet Data Discrimination

Comcast's interference with the activities of high-speed Internet subscribers appears to be an aggressive way of managing its network. The practice of managing the flow of Internet data is known as "traffic shaping," and is common amongst Internet providers. The process usually slows down certain traffic, like file-sharing. Comcast's traffic shaping, however, has a more drastic effect on one type of traffic — sometimes blocking it altogether. This informative article explores the "Net Neutrality" debate and focuses on Comcast's questionable filtering process.

Comcast Blocks Some Internet Traffic
By: Peter Svensson
Associated Press
Oct 19, 2007

NEW YORK - Comcast Corp. actively interferes with attempts by some of its high-speed Internet subscribers to share files online, a move that runs counter to the tradition of treating all types of Net traffic equally.
The interference, which The Associated Press confirmed through nationwide tests, is the most drastic example yet of data discrimination by a U.S. Internet service provider. It involves company computers masquerading as those of its users.
If widely applied by other ISPs, the technology Comcast is using would be a crippling blow to the BitTorrent, eDonkey and Gnutella file-sharing networks. While these are mainly known as sources of copyright music, software and movies, BitTorrent in particular is emerging as a legitimate tool for quickly disseminating legal content....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21376597/