In an open letter, 47 attorneys general have warned on-line
file-sharing software providers, including Kazaa, Morpheus and
Grokster, to do more to advise their users about the legal and
security risks of using the software and to block offensive
content.
Addressed to seven companies, the letter is particularly concerned about the use of P2P networks for disseminating child pornography, the trading of copyrighted music, software, films and video games and the bundling of spyware and adware with the downloaded P2P software.
The industry should educate its users properly, stop making design changes – such as encryption – that make it hard for law enforcement to take action, and develop and use better filters against offensive content, say the attorneys general.
According to the letter:
"We take seriously our responsibility to protect our citizens from misleading or deceptive practices, and to ensure that our citizens are given the information necessary to making an informed decision. And, we take seriously the need to investigate and prosecute violations of our laws wherever they may be taking place – on the internet, in the brick and mortar world, or on P2P networks."
The letter is signed by the Attorneys General of 45 States, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.
