I am setting up my first jellyfin server via docker, and I am offered the option to either use TMDB or OMDB. I have jellyfin on a LAN-connected device w/o VPN connection, and I am concerned queries to those DBs with file names of torrented files can get tracked and reported to my ISP. Could that be the case? And if so what to do about it? Are there more privacy-preserving metadata services than others?
First, change your DNS servers to something like Quad 9 so your ISP can’t track you that way. Then maybe consider switching to usenet, which is more secure in that you’re downloading from a server (or servers) over an encrypted connection instead of via torrent, where you’re both uploading (distributing) and downloading, and your IP address is available to anyone else downloading.
With usenet, all copyright-holders can really do is issue a takedown request to the indexer or host, neither of which is you.
His problem isn’t the part where he downloads parts. Jellyfin queries 3rd party metadata providers, such as TMDB. What he’s concerned with is JF sending the filename to TMDB and getting spied on by the ISP.
I know. But it’s not illegal to look up stuff from TMDB. It only becomes a problem if the copyright holder already has your IP address, knows what you’ve downloaded, and also subpoenas a list of addresses you’ve visited, which could provide them with additional evidence that you did in fact download their IP in a court case against you.
“See, Judge? He downloaded Shrek 12: The Enshrekening AND he also downloaded movie posters and a plot synopsis from TMDB for this same movie, which proves that he was in possession of our property.”
If they don’t already have evidence that you’ve “stolen” from them, a TMDB query won’t be evidence of anything useful.
It’s pretty easy to get flagged for illegal downloads with torrents, but almost impossible to do the same with usenet downloads.
How does the usenet work exactly?