[trumpablehump]

> you download a block of data containing what you're looking for and some other data

That IPFS does NOT put data I did not explicitly requested on my storage is exactly why I feel comfortable using it compared to some other distributed storage systems where I might end up with horrific data on my system.

[londons_explore]

Except you'd only have the keys for your data...

And encrypted data you don't have the key for is indistinguishable from random noise. 'Combined' blocks that you don't know which partner blocks are necessary for decoding are likewise useless.

You're being like a mailman handling mail - you can't look into the mail, so you can't know if you're delivering love letters, junkmail, or terrorist propaganda.

[sliken]

While true, if the government downloads objectionable/illegal data and they detect that 10% of that data is coming from your IP address you'll likely have a very bad day. Sure weeks or months later you might convince a judge and/or jury that you had no access or control to that data, and you might even get your laptops, desktops, and external storage back.

ISPs and USPS have common carrier protection, by default a home user does not.

[acdha]

This is such a key point that people forget: this isn’t some academic game theoretical debate but rather a question of how your actions will be perceived by society. If your IP is used to serve illegal content, saying “well actually, …” isn’t a defense and it most likely means you’re getting charged as an accessory to whatever that stranger did. Even if you can avoid legal penalties after years and significant expense, your reputation will be linked.

[risyachka]

I am not a legal expert but shouldn't the prosecutor prove that you knew about the content? Because if yes, this is basically impossible.

[acdha]

It depends on exactly what you’re talking about and which laws apply, but in general the problem for things like this, running a Tor exit node, etc. is that the content is something which people keep secret and the scenarios you need to worry about are related to serious crimes. If it’s, say, a small amount of copyrighted material your ISP will get an automated cease and desist letter but if your IP serves part of the requests for CSAM or non-consensual pornography, classified material, terrorism-related stuff, etc. that’s a very different situation. You might eventually be able to get off in court but that’s years after you’ve been in the news and quite likely had all of your devices confiscated in an unannounced raid (criminals have set up systems to destroy evidence so this isn’t without some justification), and you’d have incurred significant legal costs even if this didn’t cause you to become unemployed.

The underlying problem here is that it’s basically impossible to distinguish between someone naively allowing strangers to use their property and someone who is trying to cover their tracks by pretending to be unaware, and the internet is full of people who will abuse any free service. If it happens once, maybe you can plead ignorance but that’s not a foundation for a robust file sharing network.

[yaddaor]

You are already deep in a legal process at that point and your life might be ruined.

[trumpablehump]

I am not a mailman though, who surely have special protection. If you want an analogy, I would rather go the "carry a closed package for an anonymous stranger through airport security" danger way.

The danger is just too big, as my sibling commenter says.

[risyachka]

Not sure this is like it.

If Uber Package driver delivers a package of drugs - pretty sure he won't get to jail as it will be trivial to prove he didn't put is there and had no idea.

[lijogdfljk]

You can, though, kinda.

In your mailman example, it would be like the FBI announcing exactly what the envelope looks like, uniquely identifiable, and if you encounter this letter to report it immediately or else your complicit. Or at least, that's the fear.

Yes, if it's encrypted you have no idea, but if anyone ever found out what was in it you can know who ever transmitted it. Unless everyone re-encrypts it repeatedly.. which then makes content address-ability awkward.