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Comment by Fezzik | Hacker News Reader

Any (large?) ISP will report your torrenting and/or terminate your internet usage if you torrent anything they deem copyrightable. Both Comcast and Spectrum do this, at least.

Edit, to add: No VPNs do this.

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>Edit, to add: No VPNs do this.

counter-example: https://forum.goldenfrog.com/t/no-longer-feeling-private-aft...

If you read the last message in the thread, they no longer log IP. At the time the user originally posted his complaint, they did.

They don't. What you're describing would take them out of common carrier status and make their business unworkable. What they do is respond to notices from copyright holders.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/07/major-isps-agree...

Agreed - I was oversimplifying. A better way to put it would be to say that ISPs automatically participate in the reporting of alleged copyright infringement, as well as mete out punishment for alleged infringement when they decide it is appropriate, whereas (most?) VPNs do not.

Edit: spelling

My friend's VPN emailed him saying Comcast asked them for his info because he torrented something and the copyright holder contacted Comcast. The VPN provider didn't give Comcast any info.

Your friend may need a new VPN company. If they were able to identify him then they are probably logging too much information.

OK, I was not aware of this. I have been known to occasionally torrent things (not just Linux distros!) and having done this semi-regularly while living in four different countries I'm yet to hear anything from any ISP about it, but I am sure there are places where it's taken more seriously.

> No VPNs do this

I got a nastygram from the hosting provider I used.

> No VPNs do this.

Yet.

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