IP Addresses – Personal Property?
The New York Times posted an interesting article about whether IP Addresses are personal property or not.
The catalyst for the topic was Google’s recording IP (Internet Protocol) addresses and whether such recording would fall under privacy law.
Representatives from Google kindly pointed out to the Times that there are reasons why Google can’t track a specific IP address back to you, the individual. Legal and technical reasons.
The crux of the problem being that anywhere an IP Address is recorded, by Google or anyone else, there is a possibility that the address and anything associated with it can be traced back to an individual, family or company.
The article raises very good points about privacy and digital rights and it well worth a read.
This of this before you take a look. You’re paying your ISP for Internet service, as a part of that service you’re given an IP address, albeit pooled or static, your Internet wouldn’t work without it, while paying for it, that IP address is yours, right? you are paying for it after all.
Do you think you own your IP address?
Should IP privacy concerns be considered more carefully?
[Read the New York Times article here]
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