Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Mindymindburger — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:06:25 -0000

Who knows how to construct a killdozer

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

What? — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:29:24 -0000

No offense, dude, but you might as well ban clouds, or cheese, grass, or the sun. They'll be around either way.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

What? — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:23:55 -0000

alright, that sucks and everything, but I have to say I'm pretty sure viacom isn't going to sue me, regardless of their chances of winning . . . that's fucking retarded.

I understand its a battle over privacy, but guess what guys our identities are out there and they were available long before viacom. THAT is the disturbing part of the internet privacy issue.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Mr — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:47:22 -0000

TLDNR

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Rusty Nail — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:44:44 -0000

Big Brother, Big Brother, Big Brother: there are programs people can download to "hide" their IP addresses. Motherf***ers. Welcome to 1984, y'all. Screw this, I'm moving to the Middle Earth.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Fireant — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:59:20 -0000

so ridiculous

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Tim — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:20:27 -0000

I don't buy much music, I just don't have time to listen to it except when driving. When I do hear a song I like I go to you tube and listen to it again. In 99.9% of the cases I end up buying the CD at a store. Only because I had time to listen to it on YouTube and decide I really did like it. If it wasn't for YouTube I would have never spent my money.
YouTube should be suing for part of the profit, since it was them that "sold me" on the music.

YouTube has turned me on to products I would have bought without seeing it first. I watch shows that I have seen on YouTube because I have liked the videos of them there, otherwise I would have never attempted to see them.

I use it as a tool, I'm sure many others do too. If viacom was smart they would partner up with them instead.

In todays fast paced world, I preview before I waste my time buying, watching, listening...

Sorry Viacom if I am watching one of your shows because I liked it on YouTube. I will be sure not to watch your TV shows anymore.

Could you please provide me with a list of your products so I can avoid them on YouTube and TV, as I don't pay attention where it comes from.

I don't want to be sued because I enjoyed something you made.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

livelyalexis — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:41:41 -0000

Yes, Viacom is lame for being a tight wad, youtube/google is lame for not fighting harder for the privacy of user IPs (just to get the court off their backs), and the judge? probably not too bright about the techy stuff either?

But I don't think there's anything to be worried about for users. If you think about it, it's the people that POST/UPLOAD copyrighted videos that the IPS might be really used for. Youtube content is youtube content on a public website, and people browse around to watch different things all the time, and even on other sides. The users are not supposed to be able to figure out what IS copyrighted, and what is not. And besides, there are billions of users of youtube.

On the other hand, the persons uploading copyrighted materials...well, they most likely do know what they are doing, and might be the ones possibly getting in trouble. There are even terms and conditions when uploading videos, so yes, they MIGHT get in trouble.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

markzero — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:40:20 -0000

I don't see how they could sue me for just watching. Unless that puts me in receipt of stolen property somehow?

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

retarded chris — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:33:49 -0000

ok im confused, isnt a dynamic ip address the one that changes all the time? would that protect you? i dont know about these things, but yeah, fuck viacom

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Mark Z — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:55:59 -0000

have you ever considered that this article is the exact public outcry the courts may have intended to spawn? let's think about the direct consequences to me, goog/youtube, and viacomm:

1) i won't view copyrighted materials on youtube anymore for fear of being sued.
2) for google, the above statement has the result that they have less liability to viacomm in the future. people will self-censor their viewing habits and be more hesitant to view protected materials. youtube has largely failed in taking down protected material and until there's an algorithm to detect copyrighted material, the way to censor cheaply is to instill fear in the viewers.
3) viacomm's copyrighted materials are not posted on youtube as much and they can profit more.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

thingsyoushoulddo — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:02:39 -0000

Be more specific - Viacom owns Paramount and Dreamworks studios - their summer movies are The Love Guru and and Tropic Thunder (comedy with stiller, jack black and robert downey due out Aug 15th).

It wouldn't be that difficult for the flashmob people to make a little havoc for viacom

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Supernetuser — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:39:18 -0000

That's all really messed up.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Dean — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:23:32 -0000

The only "good" I can see coming out of this decision is more and more revenue for big companies like Viacom who basically pay-off our government to get personal information about all of us HANDED TO THEM. Handed to them like drug-dealer handing off a bag of drugs, all secretive and sly-like. Because they know it's morally wrong, and AGAINST THE LAW. I view this decision as this: Say the cops know where money is hidden in your grandma's purse. Using their powers of persuasion, they legally break into her house under the guise of "reasonable cause", saying they had a tip there was stolen merchandise in the home. Then they steal the money in her purse, and give it to a drug-dealer for a nominal fee. THAT'S how I view this: crooked cops stealing and making money doing it. It's like Viacom payed off the government to purusade the judge to rule in their favor. Essentially, the government is stealing the infromation from YouTube and selling it to Viacom. the whole thing fucking stinks of foul-play. No judge is THAT stupid. No, this smells of illegality. By ordering the personal info to be given up to Viacom, for all intents and purposes - the judge stole it from Youtube. He violated at least one act that I know of by doing this. No one can convince me that our own government, the most powerful government in the world with limitless resources at its disposal, did NOT know that this order was in violation of V.P.P.A., or other lesser acts......"Good"?? The only good is for Viacom and companies who will also do this dirty-dealing, because eventually they will use this information to corner us into buying something by taking away all other options but their own, use it to remind us of our little financial mistakes we made along the way, use it to remind us that we HAVE NO MORE RIGHTS and we better just play along, and that they can possibly use our information to sell it to anyone who wants to cause us harm - to the HIGHEST BIDDER. THAT'S that only "good" that will come of this, to fortify the ability for the ultra-rich to suck every last penny from the lower-middle class and the poverty stricken, and then kick us to the curb when we have nothing left to give up by BLACK-LISTING US to any and every financial instituion on Earth. AND possible employment. As it stands now, some companies do CREDIT CHECKS on applicants. It ought to be against the law to do so. Some people run into bad money situations through absolutely no fault of their own, but appears as if it was their fault on a credit report (identity theft, crooked lovers, ect....). As we know already, one bad move is forever encased and on display for all to see in our credit scores/reports. This "transfer" (theft) of private information of American citizens from Viacom will only suppliment the already CALLOUS system of credit reporting. You can't make one wrong move in this country, or you're as good as toast forever. Selling our info just adds another way for the rich to FUCK US OVER, and get rid of any "undesirables" in their way while they're on vacation, driving to work, or moving into a neighborhood. They want the poor OUT, so knowing everything they can about everyone on Earth helps them in their efforts to live a imperfect-Human FREE lifestyle ("imperfect-Human" means "NOT filthy stinking rich) Oh, and There's nothing wrong with being rich, just being rich and hating everyone who's NOT, is what I can't stand. And that's what Viacom stands for: plowing anyone ever who can't keep up with their financial power. FUCK VIACOM.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

harpless — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:12:50 -0000

I hope Google will challenge that request and not simply cave in.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Cookiemouse — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:15:43 -0000

Right on hnb. I've already made my complaint to the British Information Commissioner and would encourage others here in Europe to do the same. My privacy belongs to me. No American judge has a right to play around with it. How many children use YouTube? They surely have a right to data protection, as do all the rest of us.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

hnb — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:56:22 -0000

To Illustrate how stupid Viacom's corporate suits are,
I simply need to state this :

A company that needs viewers to make money and gets FREE ADVERTISING for their content by YouTube, is trying to sue the same private individuals who were watching PUBLICLY AVAILABLE CONTENT that they (Viacom) own the rights for, capable of actually driving more sales

Now how more stupid can they get?

Therefore
1) They can simply get the finger since the content was publicly available
2) They CAN sue those who uploaded, because that's the law
3) They WILL lose customers because uploading a trailer or some scenes,
at the crappy YouTube format/resolution, will NOT stop the users from actually renting, or buying a movie for example to watch.

These people THINK that viewers are stupid.
No user in their right mind would watch a tv show or feature film at 320x240
They would like to spend $10 for a ticket+popcorn and enjoy it

So they are basically making their company look like morons

It is equally stupid as if you had lets say Warner chasing you for listening to someone's car music passing by you, who happened to download that song from a torrent site.

Bottomline, for as long as content (copyrighted or not) gets produced, delivered, and becomes available in public access places, people WILL share it with others because that's what people do. They like to share stuff they find

If they (Viacom) had 0.1 milligrams of brain matter inside their empty skulls,
they could use their money to create an iTunes-relevant service and provide the content by themselves. Or do the "right" thing as other companies do via YouTube / iTunes

But, Ooops, I forgot.
Corporate idiots know jack about internet and youth CULTURE like Apple and Google does. How much do you pay your stupid lawyers and PR people again? LOL! Welcome to the world of FREE advertising.

If they try to pull such a stunt with European web surfers they'll get a lawsuit up their asses the size of the Atlantic, just because you don't mess with PRIVACY and IP security in Europe. No ISP is allowed to give private data without a SUPREME COURT decision from the user's originating country and ONLY if that involves serious criminal activity, which in this case is NOT. Random surfers were just watching random videos unaware that they were uploaded by others, or without explicit notice by the platform (YouTube) that the content they were watching was not from the copyright owner. That sh!t only happens in America, because stupid people are placed in important places

In less than 5 years from now, any Network that does not offer free content will die. THAT's A FACT. And that is just the beginning.

Those idiots are still living in the previous century
Someone tell them that the world has advanced since

The future is 100% FREE CONTENT with TARGETED ADS based on user habbits to make money for the networks by serving relevant ads so that the users welcome them and watch them.

Like it or not Viacom, that's the future.
Now go back to mommy and cry for not catching the band wagon fast enough as Google did.

boo hoo hoo

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Chill Out — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:45:35 -0000

When someone actually gets sued for watching a copyrighted video on YouTube, this will become a big deal. Until then, there will be a useless list of numbers on paper somewhere that will likely serve no purpose... *yawn*

Let's get real, here: Expecting to be completely anonymous and untraceable simply because you're on the internet is ridiculous. There are already thousands of records / files / papers floating around in the world with your REALLY personal information on it -- the internet is Fort Knox by comparison.

Privacy is a big issue and I agree this judge is dumb, but seriously some people are taking this to an extreme degree. It's annoying. Just look at Cookiemouse's post. How can you say that a lot of people are really going to *suffer* because of this? Do you know what suffering is? And child-molesters don't need a list of IP addresses to about their ways.

Wake up, and let's focus on the things that are ACTUALLY causing people to suffer.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Evil Lydia — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:56:25 -0000

I miss the old wild wild west.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Cookiemouse — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:35:38 -0000

Speculator is right. A lot of people will suffer as a result of this massive breach of privacy. Yesterday I made an official complaint to the UK ICO. Perhaps we should also remind ourselves of how many children are using YouTube. What if a Viacom employee is a pedophile and uses the info to groom kids for sex or something much worse?

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Pat — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:56:23 -0000

Everyone is blaming the wrong person!

Lets not blame the judge -- lets blame Youtube.

If Youtube wasn't so busy trying invade our privacy themselves, the IPaddress data would not be stored. The tracking watched videos can easily be stored in a way that is not directly connected back to your account and better yet only kept for 6 months.

Blame Youtube for even having the data available in the first place.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Gal — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:28:16 -0000

I could be wrong but as I understand it you can configure TOR to intercept other applications, such as java.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

lunarsight — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:07:21 -0000

I would also find all official channels of Viacom-owned companies on Youtube, and go through giving all the uploaded videos the minimum rating.

I think it's about time Viacom was reminded that without viewers, they are nothing.

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

LulzAtThis — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:19:30 -0000

Here is how I think this will all end.
Google will be forced to shut down. The Internet will perish, and the government will have you use Government Watched Computers (GWCs) to use the new internet. These GWCs has all the information saved on the hard drive, and EVERYTHING you look at will be saved. Along with this, the government will go a step further and use constant phone tapping. Then that will lead to the end of the digital world because porn will then be sold on the streets as if it was a drug. Then I will learn how to live in a log cabin in the middle of COMPLETE NOWHERE so I can farm and stuff and live off the earth like the old old times. God, the world is taking one step back!

Re: Again, One Clueless Person Destroys the Privacy Of Millions

Speculator — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:56:42 -0000

What power Viacom will have with this information!

The guys who posted those Anonymous videos against Scientology, for example-- their identities will be exposed. There must be people in Viacom who are Scientologists.

They can blackmail any politicians who watched something scandalous...