Phorm - a sign of things to come?

[sleepyhead]

Finally the BBC has picked it up...

Phorm on BBC

[The Fury]

I really dont think they should be allowed to do this. However VM is a rubbish ISP so I wouldnt go with them anyway

[nichomach]

Virgin ADSL I'm given to understand is abysmal; however I'm on cable, and that's been absolutely steady as a rock and quick. Don't REALLY want to give that up, but I REALLY don't want Phorm.

[joshwa]

There's a petition here...
Petition to: Stop ISP's from breaching customers privacy via advertising technologies.

[Mike Fishcake]

I'm really surprised that on a techie forum such as this - there aren't more posts on this subject, when it has the potential to affect a massive amount of users on here. Any chance of a Hexus feature on this?

[SilentDeath]

seems a bit pointless to me. If its done as they described on these 4 pages then I have no problem with it:
Phorm launches data pimping fight back | The Register

Its not going to affect me. I use adblock, and noscript anyway. So what if they get my data.. its not worth anything, becuase I wont be clicking the ads, and if anything it will just make the actual adverts less targetted for the people that dont block them = decreasing value.

If I have important data then I will encrypt it, for example internet banking or buying stuff online.. its encrypted and they wont be able to touch it.


Is this any different than alexa or any other adware type things, only its done at the ISP side...


If you want to stop it, poison it. Do the same thing as the scammers do, to bypass email filters.

[nichomach]

OK, SD, you're fine with Phorm tracking everything you do and everywhere you go, but as a point of principle, I'm with Tim Berners-Lee on this one:

Sir Tim said he did not want his ISP to track which websites he visited.

"I want to know if I look up a whole lot of books about some form of cancer that that's not going to get to my insurance company and I'm going to find my insurance premium is going to go up by 5% because they've figured I'm looking at those books," he said...
...Sir Tim said his data and web history belonged to him.
He said: "It's mine - you can't have it. If you want to use it for something, then you have to negotiate with me. I have to agree, I have to understand what I'm getting in return." ...
...Sir Tim added: "I myself feel that it is very important that my ISP supplies internet to my house like the water company supplies water to my house. It supplies connectivity with no strings attached. My ISP doesn't control which websites I go to, it doesn't monitor which websites I go to."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Web creator rejects net tracking

Yes it's done "at the ISP side" and that's what makes it much more insidious than stuff like Alexa; it requires the active interception and analysis of your communications, and the passing of that data to a very disreputable bunch. So far, even assuming that they make it opt-in, the least offensive means of implementing this crap, they haven't said whether not opting in simply means that you don't get targeted ads, but your data still goes via Phorm or whether you are completely excluded from your data being sent to Phorm in the first place. We know that both Phorm and one of their partners (BT) have already lied about whether the system had been trialled, and I don't feel greatly inclined to trust their honesty when it comes to anything else they say.

[Mike Fishcake]

seems a bit pointless to me. If its done as they described on these 4 pages then I have no problem with it:
Phorm launches data pimping fight back | The Register

Its not going to affect me. I use adblock, and noscript anyway. So what if they get my data.. its not worth anything, becuase I wont be clicking the ads, and if anything it will just make the actual adverts less targetted for the people that dont block them = decreasing value.

If I have important data then I will encrypt it, for example internet banking or buying stuff online.. its encrypted and they wont be able to touch it.


Is this any different than alexa or any other adware type things, only its done at the ISP side...


If you want to stop it, poison it. Do the same thing as the scammers do, to bypass email filters.

Yes, but you're a technically skilled person; you know what you need to do to bypass it. I'm not generalising here when I say that the vast majority of internet users won't have the first clue about how to do anything like you're doing.

[j1979]

Its not going to affect me. .

i understand that you think its not going to affect you but, it will have an impact on your bandwidth if nothing else (no mater how small).

but surely the point is this....

under the Data protection act: section 11

11 Right to prevent processing for purposes of direct marketing

(1) An individual is entitled at any time by notice in writing to a data controller to require the data controller at the end of such period as is reasonable in the circumstances to cease, or not to begin, processing for the purposes of direct marketing personal data in respect of which he is the data subject.

(2) If the court is satisfied, on the application of any person who has given a notice under subsection (1), that the data controller has failed to comply with the notice, the court may order him to take such steps for complying with the notice as the court thinks fit.

(3) In this section “direct marketing” means the communication (by whatever means) of any advertising or marketing material which is directed to particular individuals.

[nichomach]

Yes, but you're a technically skilled person; you know what you need to do to bypass it. I'm not generalising here when I say that the vast majority of internet users won't have the first clue about how to do anything like you're doing.

QFT; and that's what makes any suggestion of it being adopted dangerous:
Phorm: "Hi we're a friendly bunch of guys who want to make your surfing safe and happy. Would you like us to do that, or do you want to make your PC much less safe and secure by turning us off?"
Non-techie: "Errrr....well that doesn't sound like a very good idea - I'll leave you switched on then."

[Phil_P]

There's a petition here...
Petition to: Stop ISP's from breaching customers privacy via advertising technologies.

Thanks.

I'd just found that and headed straight here to post the link.

Signed and passing on to others

[Lee H]

Quick update as things appear to be gaining momentum today ;

Gov advisors: Phorm is illegal | The Register

The Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR), a leading government advisory group on internet issues, has written to the Information Commissioner arguing that Phorm's ad targeting system is illegal.

Result

[Agent]

Great news

[Mike Fishcake]

A step in the right direction...

[sleepyhead]

As long as it is proven and upheld it is illegal, I am very happy to hear that.

[j1979]

i hope this does have an effect, but i remember signing a petition about unlimited broadband, and FUP a while back, only for the gov to say its ok with them for companies to have a FUP on an Unlimited service.

and it seems that peoples rights are overlooked these days in the pursuit of, hyper capitalism.