Porn file-sharers evade watchdog through torrenting

By Ko Dong-hwan

Government authorities admit they are fighting a losing battle to eliminate porn, pirated movies and other illegal content shared through "torrenting."

Torrenting refers to the transfer of video and audio content downloaded as "torrent" files. Unlike previous file-sharing sites such as Napster, there is no central information hub. This decentralized system is popular among Internet users because it is harder for authorities to track down the offenders.

Many of these services now operate through secretive, ``member-only platforms,’’ accessible only to a closed circle of people.

Police recently arrested two people behind a members-only torrenting service operating from a server in Vietnam. The website has provided more than 54 terabytes of sex videos and other adult content to its 3,400 members.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced last year that it would crack down on torrenting sites, but this appeared to have led to the increase in member-only sites, ministry officials said.

Search-and-destroy missions continue to be difficult, and anti-piracy technology has yet to catch up.

``Most of these sites are based on foreign servers and we are searching for effective ways to prevent Internet users here from accessing them,’’ a ministry official said.