18 ms·

It seems like illegal works should be protected by copyright[1] But that begs the question, as ad injectors are probably not illegal. [1] http://www.cardozo.y

It seems like illegal works should be protected by copyright[1] But that begs the question, as ad injectors are probably not illegal. [1] http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/sites/default/files/Eldar%20Haber,%20Wrong%20Copyright.pdf http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/sites/default/files/Eldar%20Haber,...

shmerl 11y ago
I'm not sure they are not illegal. At least they shouldn't be any less illegal than many other types of malware. But I'm not familiar what laws that falls under.
- wvenable 11y ago
  Injecting ads into content has been what television stations have been doing for decades. Users of the network service may even have agreed to this in the terms of service for using the network. It's a crappy thing to do but not all crappy things are illegal.
  - shmerl 11y ago
    This example was not about injecting ads. It was about collecting data about users which is violating their privacy (i.e. it's malware).
    - wvenable 11y ago
      What are you basing this on? Flash Networks said "The javascript mentioned does not collect or store any user data but is used to deliver user messages." and I haven't heard anything to contrary. In fact, it doesn't sound like it was even going to be used to inject ads except for offering users to upgrade to larger plan when they were near their data expiration. I agree that any code injection is shady and unwanted but you're just making stuff up.
      - shmerl 11y ago
        On the article: > “This is a standard solution deployed by telcos globally to help their customers keep track of their data usage in terms of mega bytes used. It is therefore meant to improve customer experience and empower them to manage their usage. One of our network vendor partners has piloted this solution through a third party to help customers understand their data consumption in terms of volume of data used.” The same thing was claimed about various malware in the past, which was found capable of doing all kind of weird things way beyond "improving customer experience".
        wvenable 11y ago
        You are not stating any facts and so this doesn't add anything to the discussion.
walshemj 11y ago
In the UK it would be an offence under the section 3 of Computer misuse act. "3.unauthorised modification of computer material, punishable by 12 months/maximum fine (or 6 months in Scotland) on summary conviction and/or 10 years/fine on indictment;[8]" Does India not have something similar on the books.

shmerl 11y ago

I'm not sure they are not illegal. At least they shouldn't be any less illegal than many other types of malware. But I'm not familiar what laws that falls under.

wvenable 11y ago
Injecting ads into content has been what television stations have been doing for decades. Users of the network service may even have agreed to this in the terms of service for using the network. It's a crappy thing to do but not all crappy things are illegal.
- shmerl 11y ago
  This example was not about injecting ads. It was about collecting data about users which is violating their privacy (i.e. it's malware).
  - wvenable 11y ago
    What are you basing this on? Flash Networks said "The javascript mentioned does not collect or store any user data but is used to deliver user messages." and I haven't heard anything to contrary. In fact, it doesn't sound like it was even going to be used to inject ads except for offering users to upgrade to larger plan when they were near their data expiration. I agree that any code injection is shady and unwanted but you're just making stuff up.
    - shmerl 11y ago
      On the article: > “This is a standard solution deployed by telcos globally to help their customers keep track of their data usage in terms of mega bytes used. It is therefore meant to improve customer experience and empower them to manage their usage. One of our network vendor partners has piloted this solution through a third party to help customers understand their data consumption in terms of volume of data used.” The same thing was claimed about various malware in the past, which was found capable of doing all kind of weird things way beyond "improving customer experience".
      - wvenable 11y ago
        You are not stating any facts and so this doesn't add anything to the discussion.

walshemj 11y ago

In the UK it would be an offence under the section 3 of Computer misuse act. "3.unauthorised modification of computer material, punishable by 12 months/maximum fine (or 6 months in Scotland) on summary conviction and/or 10 years/fine on indictment;[8]" Does India not have something similar on the books.