I connect via Windows built-in PPP/TCP-IP networking. No software from my ISP. (Yes, they do have a "quick start" type CD available for newbies to help them get their networking set up to dial the right number, set up the right DNS, etc., but it's nothing mandatory, nor is it necessary.)
There is absolutely NOTHING that my ISP can do that would result in a video window popping up on my screen. Period.
As to Carnivore, that's a server-side "box" (as I understand it, a laptop, with a network card running in what is called "promiscuous mode", which means that it does NOT ignore packets not addressed to it). Basically, it sits on a shelf, with a single plug-in, and montors all traffic on the network. Insidious, sure -- but, "it's the law", and the ISP has no say in it.
That's neither here nor there vis-a-vis what's being touted in this latest announcement, though.
The only way they can accomplish what they are describing is to force each user to install an executable -- a server app, which sits on a port and listens for its "wake up call".
And, of course, once you let someone put an executable on your computer, he "owns" your computer. He can do anything with it that he likes, including keylogging, monitoring, reporting, etc.
Frankly I don't see this ever happening. The outrage would be unprecedented. Everyone from EFF to ACLU to LPUSA would pitch a bloody fit over it, and for good reason.
As I said before, I think it's nothing more than some blue-sky twaddle some mid-level bureaucrat whipped up in his Powerpoint presentation, with no consideration given to the realities involved in implementing something of that grand scale.
The Peter Principle has never been revoked, and it sure looks like whoever cooked up this scheme has risen nicely to his level of incompetence, if he really believes that computers can (short of hacking/cracking) be made to behave the way he describes.
I just re-read the article (a good thing to do considering that it was a month ago that I posted it), and they are actually not saying that they will send a "live" message to you over the internet to your puter; as far as the internet is concerned the messages will be viewable on web sites but they say nothing about any sort of "live" or forced messaging.
It seems that the only "active" messaging that they are contemplating is via cell phones and wireless PDA's.
Although they say that people can 'opt out' of the announcements, I have no doubt that if anything pertaining to this ever gets off the ground, it will be a shaky start at best.
If they start interrupting executives' business calls with irrelevant, old or useless messages, they will very quickly find their 'service' without any clients.