CES: AT&T contemplates filtering

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Not too long ago, the recording industry was pressing file-sharing networks such as Kazaa to use filtering to deter piracy of copyrighted works.

NBC Universal today renewed the call for technological intervention in a forum at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, but with a twist. It’s urging service providers, such as AT&T, to filter for copyrighted works as data travels over the network to your computer.

AT&T seems at least willing to consider filtering to curb Internet piracy, noting that Internet service providers recognize that they have moral -- but not necessarily legal -- obligation to deal with theft.

‘It is a systemic problem,’ said James W. Cicconi, AT&T’s senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs. ‘It is theft. It does burden our network. It creates extra cost to our consumers. It opens them to legal liability in many cases as well. ‘

The mere idea is bound to trigger consumer backlash, as occurred when Comcast Corp. started throttling BitTorrent traffic.

Other participants in the forum were filtering companies Audible Magic and Vobile Inc., consumer electronics giant Philips and Microsoft Corp.

-- Dawn C. Chmielewski