Need to accept content filtering? Surely not ...

[0815]

I have been a customer for I dont know how long and always been able to access services across the web and on my own infrastructure for years. DUe to some recent change O2 is now obviously enforcing content blocking which for me is unacceptable. Requesting content blocking to be disabled on my account lead to an agent claiming this may be related to network settings or even the SIM - surely not as it happens on DNS level (as soon as I circumvent O2 network resolution I can perfectly access all services). 

This is a change in service as it previously worked petfectly fine and I have plenty of access logs to prove it.

Surely this is a reason to cancel my contract and transition to a mobile provider not enforcing content filtering to customers and not being able to remove them?

[MI5]

@0815 

Guide here Guide: O2 Age restriction 

[0815]

its not age restrictions which as per O2 arent applied anyway to my account, thanks for the response.

I can clearly see what it is - I consider it a change of contract which should allow the customer to cancel without penalty. 

[MI5]

@0815 

We’re just customers like you but it sounds like you’ll need someone to access your account which can’t be done from here. If you message O2 on Facebook (https://o2uk.co/O2CFB) , Twitter (https://o2uk.co/O2CTW) or Instagram (https://o2uk.co/O2CIG) , they should be able to help you with this
Thanks

[Bambino]

@0815 Age restriction/content filtering, call it what you will. You just need to prove you're 18 and it will be lifted. I doubt that it's cause to allow you to cancel.

Call 202 from your mobile or 0344 809 0202, 0800 902 0217 or 0800 032 1402
When it comes to the reason you are calling, stay silent for 15 seconds and you will be taken to the keypad options.
Press 2 for Everything Else
Press 5 for More Options
Press 7 for Anything Else which will put you though to someone.
Say 'Upgrade', 'Lost/Stolen', or 'Fraud' if the suggestion above doesn't get you through.
Best time to call is 8 am.
You can also reach O2 via social media:
Facebook (https://o2uk.co/O2CFB), Twitter (https://o2uk.co/O2CTW), or Instagram (https://o2uk.co/O2CIG)

[0815]

@Bambino it is not age - age restriction filters end up on no-response as the dns request is blackholed - I am talking about effective content filtering by blacklisting ...

As these restrictions are new - been working for years, its a technical change of contract as the service changed and they are no longer able to provide the service you have subscribed to. no loop hole or anything just normal contract proceedings. 

[MI5]

Is using a VPN not an option @0815 ?

[0815]

@MI5 

is it - yes, does it address the issue - yes - should it be required: No.

Seems like someone is also sending me new settings constantly since I called them which all are bound to fail as the only solution is to remove their DNS resolution enforcement which causes it.

[madasaf1sh]

@0815 

So you are trying to circum navigate the o2 CGNAT and DNS infrastructure and legitimate protections that are in place to protect the o2 network.. 

Which DNS provider are you using? Have you tried a Packet Capture / Ping / TraceRoute to the DNS provider, to see what o2 are doing to that traffic? 

What device are you using and what app are you using if a phone to change DNS??

[0815]

you are an IT geek? interesting ... 

well first of all, nobody wants to circumvent CGNAT, DNS as you probably know on most devices cannot be modified when using a mobile networks as its often provided directly through the configuration and cannot be altered. This is what allows carriers in to perform dns-filtering and blocking of their blocklists in the first place.

so whatever they consider blockworthy cannot be accessed which is plain content filtering and was not in place probably 6 weeks ago on my phone - hence change of contract as the features I subscribed to are no longer the same, plain and simple.

By using a VPN however you can obviously force the stack through the tunnel and perform DNS resolution at gateway level, bypass to another by completely overwriting it - which should not be necessary - basically all apps on IOS do this today, no magic behind it. 

I don't need to check what O2 are doing as they present a perfectly designed Access Denied - Blockpage.

This is also not to protect their infrastructure, often claimed to be to protect the clients on the network but only few offer an opt-out while this should actually be an opt-in feature.