P2P

File sharing allows users to access documents and data no matter what computer they are using (P2P File Sharing, 2016). In other words they could be far away from home and still be able to access the same document they would have been able to access at home. The technology they use plays no part in them being able to see the data they need, which means that it's saved on more than just a hard drive. 

On the other hand, P2P (peer to peer) file sharing "allows individuals to access media files using a software program that searches and locates computers that have the file that is wanted. [It also] allows users to share files online through a network of software program" (P2P File Sharing, 2016). Instead of waiting for a movie to come out in theaters or to come on legal streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, people are able to access the movies they want for free on P2P file sharing sites. P2P sites like "TorrentFreak.com, a Web site based in Germany...tracks which shows are most downloaded, estimates that each episode of “Heroes,” a series on NBC, is downloaded five million times, representing a substantial loss for the network. (On TV, “Heroes” averages 10 million American viewers each week)" (Stelter & Stone, 2009). Sites like TorrentFreak make data, movies, music, etc. available to the public for free even if it causes a revenue loss to the original source of data. P2P sharing sites can sometimes overstep copyright boundaries so the founder of the site SuperNova Tube, Mohy Mir, removed any files that were uploaded that violated certain companies copyrights once they reached out to him (Stelter & Stone, 2009). P2P file sharing can be very useful, but it can also cause problems depending on how it's used.