Virgin Media to monitor broadband file-sharing activity

Internet service provider Virgin Media has announced its intention to trial a tool which will monitor peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic over its broadband network. Trials of CView (a Deep Packet Inspection) tool will be set up in order to track illegal activity among broadband customers.

Rather than collect data on individual broadband customers Virgin Media’s CView will be used to collate data on general file-sharing activity, so it has an idea of how serious the problem of sharing copyright material is over its broadband network.

Speaking to news site, The Register, a spokesperson for Virgin Media revealed 40 per cent of its network will be monitored by the CView tool, although those customers will not be warned of their role. On its decision not to advise customers on their service monitoring a Virgin Media spokesperson commented: “It would be counter-productive because it doesn’t affect customers directly”.

Jon James, executive director of Broadband at Virgin Media said: “Understanding how consumer behaviour is changing will be an important requirement of Virgin Media’s upcoming music offering and, should they become law, the Government’s legislative proposals will also require measurement of the level of copyright infringement on internet service provider’s networks.”

Privacy campaigners including those at NoDPI.og have been keen to pipe up to air their on the tool describing it as a breach of the e-Privacy Directive.