{{Short description|Experimental web platform}} {{Infobox website | name = YouHaveDownloaded.com | logo = | screenshot = File:YouHaveDownloaded.com Web Archive Screenshot.png | caption = | url = youhavedownloaded.com [https://web.archive.org/web/20111212012509/http://www.youhavedownloaded.com/ Archived] from the original on 2011-12-21 | commercial = No | type = Torrent activity indexing | language = English, Armenian | launch_date = December 2011 | dissolved = 2013 | current_status = Offline | founder = Suren Ter-Saakov | registration = None | revenue = None }}
'''YouHaveDownloaded''' was an experimental web-based platform launched in December 2011 that allowed users to enter an IP address and view a list of torrent files recently downloaded from that address. The site quickly gained international attention as a provocative demonstration of how publicly available BitTorrent network data could be used to expose users' online behaviour<ref name="NBCNews-2011">{{cite web |title=YouHaveDownloaded.com reveals hit on torrent downloads—or similar title |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna45646527 |website=NBC News |author=Matt Liebowitz |date=13 Dec 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 |archive-date=2022-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002172600/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna45646527 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TechCrunch-2011">{{cite web |title=YouHaveDownloaded.com Knows What You (And Google, And Sony...) Have Downloaded |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/13/youhavedownloaded-com-knows-what-you-and-google-and-sony-and-have-downloaded/ |website=TechCrunch |date=13 December 2011 |author=Robin Wauters |access-date=30 June 2025 |archive-date=2012-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108024816/http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/13/youhavedownloaded-com-knows-what-you-and-google-and-sony-and-have-downloaded |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Functionality == The platform has been operated by collecting data from the public BitTorrent ecosystem, including: Distributed Hash Table (DHT) nodes and Public trackers.
The system matched IP addresses to .torrent files. It did not log actual file contents or timestamps, limited by known limitations: dynamic IP address reassignment, use of VPNs or proxies and carrier-grade NAT.
Despite these limitations, the system indexed over 50 million IP addresses, which was estimated to cover over 20 per cent of all global torrent activity at its peak.<ref name="PIAInterview">{{cite web |title=Interview with Suren Ter from YouHaveDownloaded.com |url=https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/exclusive-interview-with-suren-ter-from-youhavedownloaded-com/ |website=Private Internet Access |date=March 2012}}</ref> The service ran on a single server and cost less than $300/month to operate.<ref name="krebsonsecurity">{{cite web |title=Interview with YouHaveDownloaded.com creator |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/12/who-knows-what-youhavedownloaded-com/ |website=KrebsOnSecurity |date=December 2011}}</ref>
== History == A small team of three developers led by Suren Ter-Saakov created the website.
{{blockquote|"The whole thing started with a theoretical discussion I had with some friends about what is possible to track..."|S.Ter-Saakov|source=KrebsOnSecurity<ref name="krebsonsecurity" />}}
== Public Reception == The site attracted attention from users and media due to its exposure of IP-based torrent activity.<ref name="TechCrunch-2011" /><ref name="TorrentFreak-111210">{{cite web |title=I Know What You Downloaded on BitTorrent... |url=https://torrentfreak.com/i-know-what-you-downloaded-on-bittorrent-111210/ |website=TorrentFreak |author=Ernesto van der Sar |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref> It was discussed on platforms such as Slashdot,<ref name="Slashdot2011">{{cite web |title=Site Offers History of Torrent Downloads By IP |url=https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/12/12/1832229/site-offers-history-of-torrent-downloads-by-ip |website=Slashdot |author=Soulskill (reporter) |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref><ref name="Slashdot2012">{{cite web |title=Interview With Suren Ter From 'You Have Downloaded' |url=https://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/03/14/165253/interview-with-suren-ter-from-you-have-downloaded |website=Slashdot |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref> Reddit,<ref name="RedditTrackersDiscovery">{{cite web |title=Just discovered youhavedownloaded.com and ...|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/trackers/comments/ppd99/just_discovered_httpwwwyouhavedownloadedcom_and/ |website=Reddit |date=2011 |access-date=30 June 2025}}</ref> and others.<ref name="DigitalSpy-2011">{{cite web |title=Youhavedownloaded.com shows an IP's torrent history |url=https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1604656/youhavedownloaded-com-shows-an-ips-torrent-history |website=Digital Spy Forums |date=23 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref><ref name="RageZone-2011">{{cite web |title=Website knows what you've illegally downloaded |url=https://forum.ragezone.com/threads/website-knows-what-youve‑illegally‑downloaded.801855/ |website=RageZone Forums |date=December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref>
=== Élysée Palace Incident === In one of the most high-profile incidents, journalists discovered that an IP address associated with the Élysée Palace, the residence of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, appeared in the database. The IP was linked to downloads of music by ''The Beach Boys'' and several comedy films.<ref name="CNET-2011">{{cite web |title=Did French President Sarkozy download pirated movies, music? |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/did-french-president-sarkozy-download-pirated-movies-music/ |website=CNET |author=Elinor Mills |date=13 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref> This was controversial, as the French government was a vocal proponent of anti-piracy legislation, including the HADOPI law.<ref>{{cite web |title=French President's Office Caught Torrenting Movies |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/15/2638020/french-president-sarkozys-residence-torrenting-scandal-piracy |website=The Verge |date=December 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="France24-HADOPI">{{cite web |title=Sarkozy's New Year resolution: catch 10,000 illegal downloaders a day |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20110113-sarkozy-new-year-resolution-catch-10000-illegal-downloaders-day-hadopi-law-france |website=France 24 |date=13 January 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref>
=== U.S. Congressional Offices Incident === In early 2012, media coverage revealed that IP addresses linked to U.S. Congressional offices appeared in public torrent activity datasets, including stations indexed by YouHaveDownloaded.com. The reports suggested these addresses were associated with downloads of copyrighted content.<ref name="Forbes-Congress-2012" /> The incident raised questions given lawmakers' roles in drafting anti-piracy legislation.<ref name="BoingBoing-House-2011">{{cite web |title=US House of Representatives: Internet pirates |url=https://boingboing.net/2011/12/27/us-house-of-representatives-i.html |website=Boing Boing |author=Cory Doctorow |date=27 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref><ref name="TorrentFreak-House-2011">{{cite web |title=While Drafting SOPA, the U.S. House Harbors BitTorrent Pirates |url=https://torrentfreak.com/while-drafting-sopa-us-house-harbors-bittorrent-pirates-111226/ |website=TorrentFreak |author=Ernesto van der Sar |date=26 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref>
== Legacy == The site went offline in 2012 but was referenced in discussions about internet privacy, surveillance, and peer-to-peer transparency.<ref name="TorrentFreak-111210" /><ref name="TechCrunch-2011" /><ref name="Forbes-Congress-2012">{{cite web |title=Members of Congress Download A Lot of Illegal Torrents |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/02/15/members-of-congress-download-a-lot-of-illegal-torrents/ |website=Forbes |author=David Thier |date=15 February 2012 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref>
Similar platforms appeared after '''YouHaveDownloaded.com''', also providing torrent activity linked to IP addresses based on public BitTorrent data.<ref name="IKWYD">{{cite web |title=YouHaveDownloaded.com Alternatives |url=https://www.cogipas.com/youhavedownloaded-com-alternatives/ |website=Cogipas |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref> Discussions on forums like HiFiVision and WildersSecurity further confirm ongoing indexing efforts of IP‑torrent mapping derived from public trackers and DHT networks.<ref name="HiFiVision">{{cite web |title=I know what you download... |url=https://www.hifivision.com/threads/i-know-what-you-download.86508/ |website=HiFiVision Forums |date=7 October 2021 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref><ref name="Wilders">{{cite web |title=Youhavedownloaded.com tracks files downloaded from a number of file-sharing sites |url=https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/youhavedownloaded-com-tracks-files-downloaded-from-a-number-of-file-sharing-sites.314110/ |website=WildersSecurity Forums |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=30 June 2025 }}</ref>
== See also == * BitTorrent protocol * Online anonymity * Digital rights * Mass surveillance in the United States * HADOPI law * SOPA / PIPA
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120930155214/http://www.youhavedownloaded.com/ Archived YouHaveDownloaded.com homepage on Wayback Machine (Sept 2012)] * [https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/15/2638020/french-president-sarkozys-residence-torrenting-scandal-piracy French President Sarkozy's residence implicated in torrenting scandal]
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:BitTorrent Category:Cypherpunks Category:Internet privacy Category:Digital rights Category:Defunct websites Category:Anti-piracy