Apparently if you live in Germany you can get fined for not password-protecting your Wi-Fi network. This is because courts ruled that you’re responsible for anyone who takes advantage of your internet connection to pirate files or cause other troubles:
Germany’s top criminal court ruled Wednesday that Internet users need to secure their private wireless connections by password to prevent unauthorized people from using their Web access to illegally download data.
Internet users can be fined up to euro100 ($126) if a third party takes advantage of their unprotected WLAN connection to illegally download music or other files, the Karlsruhe-based court said in its verdict.
“Private users are obligated to check whether their wireless connection is adequately secured to the danger of unauthorized third parties abusing it to commit copyright violation,” the court said.
It’s a bit annoying to be responsible for someone else abusing your network, but then again you should have your Wi-Fi network password-protected to begin with. [MSNBC via TechDirt via CrunchGear]
Andrew Craick
May 13, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Just make your password ‘password’ or just use WEP which will be broken in about 10 seconds.
It appears now 100 Euro allows you to pirate material on your own internet connection and then plausibly deny you did it when and if you get caught. I like it.
Report Permalinkdude
May 13, 2010 at 2:20 PM
KH!
Report Permalinkmatt
May 13, 2010 at 2:18 PM
I assume if you forget to lock your car and someone steals it as a getaway car for a bank robbery you are now responsible for the bank robbery too?
Report Permalinkdude
May 13, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Is that like having your phone stolen and a bomb threat made from it making you responsible for no keypad lock?
Report Permalinkdude
May 13, 2010 at 2:22 PM
Or having your iPad stolen and used to smash a car window, to steal a car, and rob a bank to buy a pc to download movies illegaly?
Report Permalinkmatt
May 13, 2010 at 2:57 PM
how much easier that burglar’s day would have been if only you could get a torrent app for ipad.
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