paullotion

If you do not know, three of the UK largest ISP have signed a deal with Phorm, previously known as 121Media who where responsible for putting rookits on users systems.

What is phorm, phorm use DPI Layer 7 to snoop on everything you do, then targets you with what they call "Relevant Advertising", they also have a website called "WebWise" which is an anti-philising system, this already happens in IE7 and Firefox, there is also free software that does the same thing.

Even if you opt-out of the ads(not sure whether it will be opt-in or out, by default)you data will still be profiled and sent to their servers in China and/or Russia, not doubt to be sold on for a profit.

More information can be viewed at the links below.
BadPhorm - When good ISPs go bad!: Welcome
Cable Forum - Virgin Media customer support and community forum
Cable Forum - Virgin Media customer support and community forum
BT, Webwise and interception of nearly everything you do on the Internet
The Phorm files | The Register
Deep packet inspection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BT conducted secret trials on 108,000 customers, which is illegal.

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Learn more about Virgin Media, BT and Carphonewarehouse deal with Phorm and how this affects your privacy.
http://www.badphorm.co.uk/page.php?2

Still not convinced, see Here

I want nothing to do with Phorm, in anyway, shape or Phorm.

Westcountryman

I've written to various people about this, and have been assured that Phorm will be a purely opt-in system.

As for the secret trials - I believe the general opinion is that these may have been a breach of existing legislation and as such is being investigated by the Information Commissioner's Office.

It was certainly enough to attract the attention of the EU Commission, who are keeping a close eye on phorm and all similar technology - with a view to protecting user privacy on the internet. The EU also opposed plans to cut off internet users caught infringing copyright.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Europe rejects anti-piracy plans

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Alex McKee

It's quite hard to stomach but the EU has been very good to internet users.

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paullotion

News to me, have i missed something in the last 24hrs. The only ISP to come out and state that phorm(scumware)will be opt-out by default is CarPhoneWareHouse. Neither BT or VM have stated this, i would love to know where you got your information from.

I hope this is true, need to check tomorrow.

There is debate on-going within the EU on exactly how the EU will handle privacy and p2p laws.

I agree, how long it will last is another matter.

__________________
Learn more about Virgin Media, BT and Carphonewarehouse deal with Phorm and how this affects your privacy.
http://www.badphorm.co.uk/page.php?2

Still not convinced, see Here

I want nothing to do with Phorm, in anyway, shape or Phorm.

Westcountryman

I have assurances from my MP that they will be purely opt in (who has received assurances from BT - not sure about VM).

My MP stated in their letter that should the system be rolled out nationally then it would come before Parliament.

Also, this from Viviane Reding of the EU Commission:

"the ICO has been told (by the 3 companies - BT, Carphone Warehouse and VM) that the users will be duly informed about the technology and presented with the possibility to become involved, ie. to provide their consent by positively opting in, and that they will also have the possibility to change their mind at any moment later."

"it (the ICO) will keep the Phorm products under review as they are rolled out to verify whether the assurances Phorm has provided so far are confirmed in practice."

I also have this from two Labour MEPs:

"some parts of the European Union's e-privacy directive are being reviewed at present, as part of the review of the so-called 'Telecoms Package'. Labour MEPs will certainly be taking a keen interest in this revision to see if we can strengthen these measures.

However, what concerns us more is the secretive way that some ISPs have trialled and introduced such software (ie. Phorm). Many consumers will simply be unaware of the concerns of such new technology, introduced without their knowledge.

Labour MEPs believe that some consumers could be more willing to accept certain tradeoffs if their internet service providers had entered into an open, transparent dialogue with them in the first place and explained how the system worked; what benefits they fofered and what risked they posed.

Some of the responsibility also rests with politicians. We have a responsibility to ensure increased media literacy and awareness of these issues. To that end, Labour MEPs are currently looking at various ways to improve the dialogue between technology companies and consumers on privacy issues...Privacy concerns are certainly set to increase rather than decrease as more of our lives are conducted using digital technolohy and it is therefore appropriate that we keep reviewing whether the provisions we have in place are adequate."

True, but I have already gained assurances from my MEPs about their stance on the issue. They are firmly in favour of net neutrality and not kicking people off the 'net, access to which they regard as a 'human right'.

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paullotion

Is this the same BT who assured customers that they had not performed secret trials of phorm. I know a few MPs and Lords are concerned about this, frankly not enough of them are making any noises, it also seems that the Home Office do not want to get involved either.

I`d rather it came before Parliament and the courts before being implemented.

This statement does not go far enough, if a users decides to opt-in, unaware of what phorm really is about and then changes their mind, will it still be opt-out by default or as soon as you sign up to phorm, this changes to opt-in?

Those MPs should be asking the police why they are not investigating BT and Phorm for illegal interception, some BT users with the data to prove that they where part of the trial without their consent, have been told by the Police, we have better things to do, if you or i did something similar we would face prosecution.

I cetanily hope those that are in favour of keeping the net neutral win the day, Virgin Media`s CEO called Net Neutrality "Bol***ks".

Also keep in mind phorm will be able to see the unseen forums, those used by the Mods.

__________________
Learn more about Virgin Media, BT and Carphonewarehouse deal with Phorm and how this affects your privacy.
http://www.badphorm.co.uk/page.php?2

Still not convinced, see Here

I want nothing to do with Phorm, in anyway, shape or Phorm.