In my previous diary, I related my experience with my local cable monopoly, who is also my ISP. I made mention of the fact that there is no oversight of their bandwidth usage meter, and that it's usage data statistics are highly suspect according to multiple customers, including myself.
Some new information has come to light since I wrote that.
It has just come to my attention that my ISP does not do it's own bandwidth monitoring, and has instead contracted it out to a third party called OpenVault. OpenVault, using Cloud based software, logs and analyzes all the data from a customers cable modem.
If you take a look at the OpenVault site their services are designed to help ISP's monetize and control customers bandwidth usage.
OpenVault is partnering with another data analysis company called FourthWall Media. FourthWall has a division called “MassiveData” that is responsible for collecting the data from customers set top boxes.
This is from the OpenVault page:
“OpenVault, the leading provider of easy-to-use tools to help Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) increase revenues, reduce costs and manage growth on their high-speed data broadband networks and FourthWall Media®, the largest independent source of cable set-top box viewing and diagnostic data, today announced an agreement for OpenVault to license set-top box diagnostic data from FourthWall’s MassiveData® division. This data will be integrated with OpenVault’s cable modem data for reports on video and data network health that will benefit MVPD customers of both companies”.
“FourthWall’s MassiveData division delivers viewership and set-top box diagnostics data, reports, analytics, and advanced advertising to television stakeholders and innovators who need to target the right audience with the right message. MassiveData, the largest independent provider of second-by second set-top box data, enables actionable messaging, measurement, insights and intelligence for cable television operators, programmers, agencies, advertisers, researchers, and analytics firms. Unlike traditional measurement companies, MassiveData leverages FourthWall Media relationships with cable operators along with embedded device-level expertise that allows the collection and processing of ultra-precise television viewership data”.
Now correct me if I'm wrong- but from trying to decipher the corporate New Speak of the above paragraphs- to me this means they are engaging in data mining of customers usage using both their cable modems and their set top boxes. If I read this correctly, the data collected is intended to be passed on- or sold- to yet other interested parties, for the purpose of targeted advertising and God knows what else.
I am not sure what information is harvested through a set top box other than what you might be watching at a given time. However, data being mined from your cable modem is a whole other ballgame.
Think about it- everything you do online goes through your cable modem. When you shop, bank, watch online videos, surf, do email. It sounds to me like what is being collected is a whole lot more than just simple Customer A used X amount of data in a given month.
It's bad enough that my cable company has this information- do I need it spread across the globe to who knows what other entities, in the pursuit of the almighty dollar?
How many cable ISP's are doing this? Is your ISP doing it too?
I did not agree to this. At no time was I ever notified by my ISP that this type of monitoring was taking place.
I don't know about anyone else- but this is Big Brother, black helicopters, guys with black SUV's knocking on your door in the middle of the night to “have a word” with you scary.
I now feel less secure online than ever, knowing that my data will be in the hands of third, fourth, fifth, and who knows how many other “interested parties”. And I am paying out the wazoo for the privilege.
At the very least- ISP's that do this should be required to notify their customers and explain exactly what is being collected, by whom, and what is being done with it. There needs to be some transparency here from our ISP's. WE are the ones paying them, after all.
How far do ISP's have to go before the FCC finally steps in and does something to protect the consumer?