<p> Two issues up for debate here. a) User interaction has made the internet a good thing. Has it? File sharers should be taxed by their ISPs. Should they? Here's my six pennies worth: </p> <p> a) People are losing vast amounts of privacy, adversely affecting their own future, and wasting lots of time on social network sites. Social networking sites now take up a huge percentage of internet traffic. People "digg" them. In a big way. But why??? Most people I've spoken to claim to dislike the intrusive nature of them. Yet in spite of this, they still post on them. With their real names. No pseudonyms. They post pictures of their families, their new born babies, their drunken nights out in town and anything else that happens in their life onto sites which often reside in different countries, with different or non existent data protection laws, in the full knowledge that they are waiving propriety rights to all of their content. But they still do it regardless. Most people with a decent amount of common sense are tuned in to the fact that employers use search engines to check up on their employees or potential employees, and yet they still do it. Not to mention the fact that it completely wastes their time. Why do they continue to use them? Are they unaware that full SQL and file system backups are taken regularly and that even if they 'delete' content, it is not really 'deleted'? Are they not bothered that a few large corporations are in possession of large quantities of personal data? And don't bother trying to defend this with the same old, tired, 'they already know everything about you anyway' line. That's pathetic. 'They' don't, the government might. And the government have got an even better chance with these networking sites. Its called putting it on a plate. Not to mention the fact that it might fall into the wrong hands. We all saw what happened with the Home Office... and its not like these websites are impenetrable. People: GET. A. GRIP! </p> <p> b) Everyone downloads. Fact. Legal or illegal is another question, but propositions for imposing an ISP tax? Get real. This just isn't going anywhere. Anyone that tries convincing you this is a good thing needs a bullet in the head. What if you're sharing legit files? 'Oh but they'll filter the illegal from the legal out!' I disagree profusely that telecoms companies should even be allowed, without warrant, to even inspect traffic on your line. Just. No. </p> <p> Comments welcome. </p>