Deep Packet Inspection is a disturbing technological development. It enables inspection of the contents of Internet data packets, akin to a traditional mail envelope opened by the postman or someone else and the letter inside the envelope is read before it reaches its destined recipient.
The concept and pursuit of privacy is "dear to a few technologically sophisticated users: the Cypherpunks, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Everyone else either assumed their actions were private, or didn't really care" says Bruce Shneier, CTO of British Telecom and renowned columnist. Even those sophisticated users are in a well lit room with transparent walls all around from where they are aware that they are being watched, but unable to know who is watching, when and how. The general wisdom is that "If you are online, you are watched". Deep packet inspection makes it possible for your every online move to be tracked without your knowledge.
It makes it possible for ISPs to know whether you are watching a movie, or downloading something from a P2P site, making a skype call or sending email. And if you are browsing, it is possible to monitor and record what sites you visit. With this knowledge it would be possible for ISPs to bring in tiered service plans, offer targeted advertising etc.. Beyond this commerical use, ISPs in some countries are required to use this technology by Governments to monitor users for the purpose of censorship and control.
My question is 'Would any amount of civil protests, challenges and the proclamations in response or even legislation stop the use of this technology?
The lure of the technology is so much that the ISPs or Governments wouldn't abandon the technology. Perhaps redesign the packet?
In the following publication from the Free Press, authors M. Chris Riley and and Ben Scott explain the technology so well.
Deep Packet Inspection very well explained
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