image:9215:1::0

Under the pretext of helping to prevent piracy, AT & T has announced its big plans to start watching everything its users do online. Not only will the company be watching, but it will also be actively filtering content, possibly including email and instant messages, if this plan goes forward.

Doing so will likely slow the speed of access for many people, which in an era of instant gratification, is never a good business idea. And, just who does AT & T think they are to open and review private messages? Is it even legal for them to do so?

Other concerns include the potential to block information that may be perfectly legal and which does not infringe on copyrights at all. If “exercise in frustration” are words that come to mind, imagine what it will be like beyond the consumer’s frustration. Those working for AT & T will certainly have their hands full.

Joel Johnson, editor of Boing Boing Gadgets, was interviewed on The Hugh Thompson Show and decided to use the time to bring this filtering issue to light. The interview may not ever be aired, but you can watch a clip at BoingBoing.

AT & T is currently being sued for "collusion with the NSA" by the Electronic Frontier Foundation in regard to warrantless wiretapping issues, so its respect for customers' privacy is already being questioned.

Some wonder if AT & T has lost its mind, for example, Tim Wu of Slate. He goes on to suggest that, “The filter AT&T will really need will be the one that blocks the giant flood of complaints and termination-of-service notices coming its way.”

To many, it seems like overreaching at best, and Microsoft apparently disagrees with the plan for filtering, according to a New York Times Blog.

Should we be alarmed or should we shrug and say we have nothing to hide? The better question may be, do you want AT & T reading your email?