I think such a filtered/broken by
design/limited Internet access is just not compliant with what
is called "an Internet access".
You should then complain about the unconformity of the
delivered service.
by
More than that, by acting on base of the bytes located
after
the IP header (the protocol layer and more precisely the TCP
port fields), EPT is accessing
your data and not the
data they must access to provide the service.
Indeed, to provide an IP service, the processing of the IP
header is sufficient. The remaining data is
yours and
should fall under the rules applicable to communications
(letters, phone, telex, ...). Without legal
obligations/authorisation to do so, they shouldn't be allowed
to even look at it. They have right to collect information
useful to
protect their network (security issues, such
as checking if the IP packet is not intentionally corrupted to
harm some of their devices) or to
invoice you (such as
counting the amount of bytes transferred, the timestamps of
aDSL connections, ...)
At
Internet
Society Luxembourg, we already discussed about cases
like this one, and we are in favour of some
optional
limitations, even activated by default, as soon as they can be
removed on simple request. As example, most of the end-users
are not running SMTP servers or relays at home, so it could be
acceptable that port 25 is blocked by default, as long as it
is opened on single request. This policy is followed by some
ISPs in Luxembourg.
Here, aside of the unconformity of the service and the
violation of your privacy, there is a third aspect: the forced
sales of a service, which is also illegal. Indeed, by blocking
your possibility to access a given service (here the e-mail
service) provided by third parties on the Internet, you are
(more or less for the time being) forced to opt for the EPT
e-mail service. Even if it is free for the moment, it could
not last, especially if EPT Internet access customers have no
other choice any more. This implies also that any EPT customer
would be obliged to have their e-mails stored at some point in
time on EPT servers (privacy ?).
In some northern EU state, a telco (providing either genuine
phone service and Internet accesses) decided to
invoice
the VoIP calls made through their Internet access !
Some years ago, the historical belgian telco (Belgacom)
blocked suddenly access to the directory inquiries service in
Luxembourg, forcing their customer to call their own
"International Directory Service", at high rates.
Some other Internet access providers are looking for solutions
to reduce VoIP traffic quality, as example by introducing
jitter in such communications (1/3 of the international calls
are already carried by Skype alone).
This is against competition and progress, and is illegal. We
should struggle strongly on that.
This blocking of third parties e-mail services is also against
the free circulation of services, principle part of the EU
treaties.
What I suggest is to discuss this with legal advisors, check
carefully the applicable legislation (legilux.lu), and
organise an Internet Society Luxembourg meeting around this to
prepare our official reactions.
Depending on the conclusions, we might contact other parties,
such as ULC (Union Luxembourgeoise des Consommateurs), CNPD
(Commission nationale pour la protection des données), ILR
(Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation), ... and write a
letter to the ministers in charge of either the
telecommunication sector and economy (concurrence aspects). We
could even contact some specialised media to make noise around
this.
I strongly suggest all interested Internet user which wish to
act on what the Internet is today and what it should be
tomorrow to also seriously envisage joining
Internet
Society Luxembourg...
What do you think about this proposal ?
Le 08.03.2013 09:52, Michel Kohl a écrit :