Recording the websites you visit: MTN explains

That's crazy!!

It actually puts them in a position to blackmail you & spy on what you're doing.
 
The late technology law expert Reinhardt Buys explained in 2009 that “in terms of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act an Internet download may not be intercepted or monitored in this way without the prior written consent of the user.”
Click to expand...


“MTN does not record the contents of sites visited or downloads made by its subscribers. The history of websites visited is stored solely for billing purposes should a customer request to interrogate their data usage bill,” said Fairon.
Click to expand...

A website is a download so I have no idea what MTN are talking about.

In order to store a history of websites visited MTN has to monitor downloads which as stated is illegal.
 
Thats quite risky for companies as anything they keep will be permissible in a court with a court order.
 
Well, all ISP's "record", how else would that bill you? In terms of how long those lists are and how detailed they are, that is up for discussion. Why else would one need VPN's and anonymous proxies...
 
daveza said:
A website is a download so I have no idea what MTN are talking about.

In order to store a history of websites visited MTN has to monitor downloads which as stated is illegal.
Click to expand...

Intercepting a download is not the same as recording URLs, for instance in a proxy log.
 
The late technology law expert Reinhardt Buys explained in 2009 that “in terms of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act an Internet download may not be intercepted or monitored in this way without the prior written consent of the user.”
Click to expand...

Go read the T&C pretty sure you gave written consent when you bought the bandwidth.
 
Billing purposes!? Sure :erm:

I'm of the opinion that its not allowed.
I'd like some more clarity on it.

There's no discernable reason why an ISP should be keeping track of your browsing history.
If its for billing purposes - how long do they keep it for?
A month? 3 months? 2 years?
Is the data encrypted?
Should get an Anon Script Kiddy to just go after it and show MTN what crap they are. :rolleyes:

It also freaked me out that a friend at 8ta could see my browsing history a few months back.
I wonder what's the deal with CellC on this?

How's about a follow-up story with all ISP's on this rpm/Jan?
 
daveza said:
How do they record a url in proxy without in essence intercepting/monitoring a download ?
Click to expand...

Following that logic all proxy servers will be illegal.

The record the URL in the proxy because the proxy actually sends the request so your client sends the request to the proxy. That the meaning of "by proxy".
 
Thing is do you trust a company like MTN (implicated in some shady business practices before) with your browsing history?

I sure as hell don't!
 
The record the URL in the proxy because the proxy actually sends the request so your client sends the request to the proxy. That the meaning of "by proxy".
Click to expand...

I am aware of what the proxy does.... but it does seem the law as it stands and the technology in use are at odds.
 
daveza said:
How do they record a url in proxy without in essence intercepting/monitoring a download ?
Click to expand...

Well, how does a web server record your details in the access log? Same thing. It's not intercepting or monitoring the content... just your request?
 
Well it would be very useful to have access to this data when a WASP starts billing you out of the blue claiming you visited their landing page and subscribed to their junk.
 
jes said:
Recording the websites you visit: MTN explains

MTN records all websites visited by clients for billing purposes, but the company explains that it complies with all laws
Click to expand...

ROFL

Monitoring traffic in any sense is illegal in South Africa, they already broke the law by monitoring it how the hell can it comply with the law. If there is someone with allot of money please take them to court.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X