Israeli ISPs Caught Interfering With P2P Traffic

Fuzzzy writes "For a long time, people have suspected that Israeli ISPs are blocking or delaying P2P traffic. However, no hard evidence was provided, and the ISPs denied any interference. Today Ynetnews published a report on comprehensive research that for the first time proves those suspicions. Using Glasnost and Switzerland, an Internet attorney / blogger found evidence of deep packet inspection and deliberate delays. From the article: 'Since 2007 Ynet has received complaints according to which Israeli ISPs block P2P traffic. Those were brought to the media and were dismissed by the ISPs. Our findings were that there is direct and deliberate interference in P2P traffic by at least two out of the three major ISPs and that this interference exists by both P2P caching and P2P blocking.'"

Gutless

[dark grep]

How gutless of the ISP to not admit it. EVERY ISP outside of perhaps the USA and Europe does it. Bandwidth is just too expensive not to. Many ISP's in Australia denied it for years, until they were 'outed' by one honest ISP who told everyone up front what they were doing.

Its the lies and cover up that bugs me

[Camael]

Most of these isps try to justify their actions with the excuse that they need to restrict pvp users so that other users consuming less bandwidth can enjoy decent surfing/transfer rates. While arguably laudable, what really irks me is that these plans were largely sold to users (including pvp users) as non-capped unlimited bandwidth plans. If they wish to restrict or apply caps, they should be up-front about it. And by up-front, I don't mean burying it in the contract's fine print. These throttling and scanning attempts would likely lead to civil suits for breach of contract, fraud and/or deceptive advertising in any other industry. It's surely not a coincidence that the Israeli and Japanese ISPs referred to are actively trying to hide their actions. The difficulty is that it is difficult for individual users to challenge the actions of these ISPs who more often than not have deep pockets or a near monopoly over internet connectivity in their sphere of the world. Corporate bullying at its best.

Re:The Real Question

[barrkel]

I think you have that power relationship backward - it's the Israelis that pressure the US, not the other way around.

The Israeli lobby in the US has strong leverage over US votes, but the US has relatively little over Israel. US administrations can never afford to be seen to be censuring Israel.

Re:The Real Question

[nautilu]

It's not the time or the place to bring your misinformed political views. And if you still decide to do so, just bring your brains to think a moment before. Now let me do it instead. What POSSIBLY the Israeli Gov't could gain out off pressuring the US in this matter?! (With most of the industries suffering from P2P are originated in US, and Israel's population of less than NYC's ?)

Re:Gutless

[jonwil]

Not all Aussie ISPs are doing it. Mostly its the smaller ISPs that are doing it, the big boys like Internode and iiNet and TPG dont.

Re:ISPs interfering with P2P traffic isn't news

[nedlohs]

Yes they should be sued for actually advertising exactly what they are delivering.

Re:The Real Question

[A1rmanCha1rman]

It takes two to tango, my friend.

Every power relationship is bi-directional, especially where there is one-way FUNDING involved.

"He who pays the piper dances to the tune" would adequately describe the situation.

Re:Its the lies and cover up that bugs me

[westlake]

While arguably laudable, what really irks me is that these plans were largely sold to users (including pvp users) as non-capped unlimited bandwidth plans.

I'd be very much surprised if your contract for broadband service at the mass market price includes any quaranteed quality of service whatever.

The adds will promise an "always on" connection and speeds up to X - when and as available. Nothing more.

Pretty much the same deal the telephone company was offering in 1886.
   

Re:The Real Question

[Ash Vince]

It could very well be the Israeli government with their finger in this pie.

Maybe, but then again the ISP's could just be doing this to maintain a reasonable level of service to people who do not use P2P.

The fact is that when you rent a ADSL service from any internet company as an individual you are not buying dedicated routing and guaranteed bandwidth. The figures they quote for bandwidth are maximums, not minimums. With this in mind they can do whatever they pretty much like.

If you do not want to be subject to this you can subscribe to an ADSL service that offers minimum guaranteed bandwidth. These do exist it's just that they are horrifically expensive because very few people need them.

Re:i have "evil" verizon fios

[IndustrialComplex]

Do those clauses even have any legal validity?

They may or they may not. Does it really matter when 'upholding your Rights' in court costs tens of thousands of dollars and takes years to resolve?

Re:The Real Question

[Anonymous Coward]

Something's wrong here: did the Israelis pressure the US into allowing them to kick thousands of Jews out of their homes in Gush Katif? It's a very strange kind of "pressure" to put it mildly. Could you be a little more specific?