Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
ETHICAL AND
SOCIETAL ISSUES
In 2008, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
required the telecommunications and cable TV giant Comcast to
testify about its practice of packet shaping. Packet shaping is a
technique that some Internet service providers (ISPs) use to
control the volume of network traffic to optimize or guarantee
performance. It involves filtering Internet traffic, which travels the
Internet in data packets, and slowing down some types of packets
in order to speed up others.
Some Comcast customers noticed that when they attempted
to upload files on Bit Torrent, a popular file-sharing utility, the
transfers were extremely slow and often stopped all together.
Reporters with the Associated Press ran some nationwide
tests and determined that Comcast was indeed filtering Internet
packets, determining which packets were uploading files with Bit
Torrent, and then shutting down those packets. When the news
was released, it made front page headlines, and many Internet
users were enraged.
Why were they enraged? The people who designed the Internet
and Web intended it to be run with neutrality. Network neutrality
refers to a principle applied to Internet services whereby all data
is delivered to all users with equal priority. Most importantly, many
believe that managers of Internet traffic do not have the right to
examine what is in packets. To do so would be an invasion of
privacy. A process called “deep packet inspection” allows
automated systems to analyze the contents of every packet flowing
through the ISP and take actions based on a rule. For example,
packets with the words “bomb instructions” might be detained
and the owner tracked down. But would such an action be in
accordance with the privacy guaranteed to U.S. citizens in the
Constitution?
Some organizations do not support net neutrality. Comcast
claims that 80 percent of its bandwidth is taken up by 10 percent of
its users involved in illegal file sharing, with many of the files being
huge video files. If this were true, and if it were affecting the overall
performance of the Internet, they might have a case for packet
shaping.
Law enforcement would also like the ability to filter packets to
find criminal activity. FBI director Robert Mueller has indicated that
he would like the House of Representatives to grant permission to
filter all Internet traffic to detect illegal activities. The Recording
Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association
of America would like ISPs to filter out packets that are involved in
illegal file sharing and copyright violation. However, the ISPs are
not eager to become the Internet's traffic cops. When false arrests
are made, as they inevitably would be, the ISP would be liable.
After hearing Comcast's case and the voices of those support-
ing net neutrality, the FCC stated that it plans to regulate how and
when ISPs can practice packet shaping. Comcast has promised to
change its packet-shaping practices. Net neutrality is likely to be a
hot topic in federal courts in coming years.
Discussion Questions
1.
What is packet shaping and do ISPs use it?
2.
What are the principles of network neutrality?
Critical Thinking Questions
1.
Do you favor network neutrality or packet shaping? Why?
2.
Is it necessary for the U.S. government to intervene and
regulate ISPs? What laws would you like to see enacted?
Sources:
Svensson, Peter, “Comcast blocks some Internet traffic,” Associated
Press/MSNBC,
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21376597;
Kumar, Vishesh, “Com-
cast, BitTorrent to Work Together on Network Traffic,” The Wall Street
Journal, March 27, 2008,
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB120658178504567453.html;
Stokes, Jon, “FBI wants to move hunt for crim-
inals into Internet backbone,” Ars Technica, April 24, 2008,
http://
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