Be Aware You're Uploading (BAYU)

BAYU (Be Aware You're Uploading) is an automated Iowa State service that notifies campus network users when they might be unlawfully uploading using peer-to-peer (P2P) filesharing technology. Users are notified via email when BAYU detects traffic from a computer that indicates uploading is taking place. Files are considered to be uploaded when they are transferred from a computer to a central server or the Internet.

The purpose of BAYU is to educate and increase awareness about issues surrounding copyright infringement through peer-to-peer (P2P) filesharing technology. Two key reasons for using BAYU:

The ease of using P2P technology makes it easy to upload files unwittingly, and people could potentially be breaking the law without even knowing it.
Protecting the university's computers and networks, and to safeguard the privacy and identities of students.

Careless or unintended P2P filesharing opens a computer to being infected by viruses and worms, or being taken over and used for someone else's purposes. Infected individual machines can, in turn, infect other machines in the university networks. Moreover, users may be exposing themselves to identity theft and may risk private materials being made public.

The goal of BAYU is to educate users on:

How to avoid uploading
How to use P2P filesharing technology lawfully
The risks associated with using P2P filesharing technology

The BAYU system does not look at either the content of the file in question or the content on the computer's hard drive. It makes no judgment about whether the uploading activity is lawful or unlawful. It simply informs the user that it is happening.

Nor does the BAYU system monitor the content of data network traffic for copyrighted material, generate lists of users for punitive/disciplinary action, or otherwise pass judgment on user behavior. No user data will be retained by the system other than a list of users who have opted out of receiving BAYU email notifications.

How does it work?

When BAYU identifies P2P uploading, it will automatically send an email to the user on whose computer it detected what uploading traffic. This email lets the user know that a computer associated with them appears to be engaged in P2P uploading.

The BAYU email contains a link to this website so that users can inform themselves about safe and proper usage of P2P applications. The email also provides instructions on how to disable and remove peer-to-peer filesharing applications.

Users may choose to opt out of receiving the email message. You should opt out of BAYU only if:

You understand the technology you are using.
Your uses are lawful.
You are not exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.
You would rather not receive up to one email notice each day you upload.

The opt-out period expires 60 days from the date a user opts out. After 60 days, the user again becomes eligible to receive an uploading notification, if warranted.