Dutch ISPs admit to using deep packet inspection

By EDRi · May 18, 2011

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: [Niederländische ISPs geben Nutzung von Deep Packet Inspection zu | http://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_9.10_Niederlaendische_ISPs_geben_Nutzung_von_Deep_Packet_Inspection_zu]

During an investors day on 10 May 2011 in London, Dutch Internet service
provider KPN admitted to using deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, to
determine the use of certain applications by its mobile internet customers.
Vodafone soon followed with an announcement that it used this
technology for traffic shaping. The Dutch minister of Economic Affairs
within days announced an investigation into KPN’s practices and promised to
publish the results within two weeks.

The recent revelations come after Dutch telecom giant KPN announced that
it will start charging mobile internet users extra for the use of
certain applications, such as internet telephony. This is a hot topic in
The Netherlands, as net neutrality rules will soon be discussed in the
Dutch parliament. Dutch digital rights organisation Bits of Freedom is
concerned that the application of DPI by KPN is a violation of the Dutch law
and called for customers to lodge a complaint with the public prosecutor.

Article on use of DPI by KPN (12.05.2011)
http://webwereld.nl/nieuws/106656/kpn-luistert-abonnees-af-met-deep-packet-inspection.html

Press release Bits of Freedom (12.05.2011)
https://www.bof.nl/2011/05/12/persbericht-bits-of-freedom-roept-kpn-abonnees-op-om-aangifte-te-doen-tegen-aftappen/

(contribution by Ot van Daalen – EDRi-member Bits of Freedom, Netherlands)