Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Subpoena (and IP question)

[Curios Cat]

If an American hosting company were to have a UK subpoena ordering them to give private details of somebody who signed up with them, do they have to give it out? Or are the laws different between countries?

Also, is it possible to change an IP multiple times? i.e. to make it look like I have an IP from China?

Thanks

[FernGullyGraphics]

Originally Posted by Curios Cat

If an American hosting company were to have a UK subpoena ordering them to give private details of somebody who signed up with them, do they have to give it out? Or are the laws different between countries?

Also, is it possible to change an IP multiple times? i.e. to make it look like I have an IP from China?

Thanks

No, each country has a different jurisdiction. However these days countries are starting to work more closely together (at least in terms of prosecutions).

[qtriangle]

Originally Posted by Curios Cat

If an American hosting company were to have a UK subpoena ordering them to give private details of somebody who signed up with them, do they have to give it out? Or are the laws different between countries?

Also, is it possible to change an IP multiple times? i.e. to make it look like I have an IP from China?

Thanks

No they can't order any person bound by any other country's law.
For china IP you need a hoster from China.

[lpmusic]

This of course, doesn't mean they still wont drive. I've seen that happen a number of times before.

[jalapeno55]

Originally Posted by qtriangle

For china IP you need a hoster from China.

Yes, and no, you would need to get an IP block from APNIC, and then you can route that block to an AS number of a router in the U.S. But unless you know someone in China then they are not going to give you a block of IPs.

This is more common among International corporations who do business in multiple countries and may have servers in the U.S. using IPs from the Ripe or APNic.

[quiksilver]

I would consult a lawyer about your subpoena. If it were me I would just ignore it.

[Sobez]

Originally Posted by quiksilver

I would consult a lawyer about your subpoena. If it were me I would just ignore it.

ya, don't get in tangled in international law.

[jetbrains]

Originally Posted by Curios Cat

Also, is it possible to change an IP multiple times? i.e. to make it look like I have an IP from China?

Thanks

You can change the IP multiple times, but some hosters will charge service fee for doing that.

[Curios Cat]

Also guys, what does the end few and front few numbers in a I P address mean? Do they have a specific relevance?

[Snapfiber]

Originally Posted by Curios Cat

Also guys, what does the end few and front few numbers in a I P address mean? Do they have a specific relevance?

The first portion of an IP address is considering the network address, and the last portion is the host address. The lengths are variable (the first 16 bits may be network, or the first 29).

See: http://voip.about.com/od/voipbasics/a/IPAddress.htm

[CinfulStyles]

I agree with Sobez. The American host should kindly refer the UK authorities to the US State dept. or US dept of Justice if they want to take Legal action against a US based company. They have no legal jurisdiction in the United Stated unless they also have a US interest based in the United States, intervention by a US law enforcement agency would be required.