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Phorm Internet spying software 'illegal' says policy group
(BBC News, 17 March 2008)
Online advert system Phorm is illegal in the UK, the Foundation for Information Policy Research (Fipr), has argued in an open letter. . . . BT, Talk Talk and Virgin have all signed up to use Phorm, which targets adverts to users based on web habits. . . . Fipr believes Phorm contravenes the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa), which protects users from unlawful interception of information. . . . Phorm and BT have said the technology does not breach any UK laws. . . . The debate over the deployment of Phorm, legal or otherwise, is based on the interpretation of Ripa. . . . Fipr has written an open letter to the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas in which it argues that Phorm must not only seek the consent of web users but also of website operators. . . . Phorm's system works by "trawling" websites visited by users and then matches keywords from the content of the page to a profile. . . . Users are then targeted with adverts that are more tailored to their interests on websites that have signed up to Phorm's technology. . . . Richard Clayton, treasurer at Fipr, said: "The Phorm system is highly intrusive; it's like the Post Office opening all my letters to see what I'm interested in, merely so that I can be sent a better class of junk mail. . . . "Not surprisingly, when you look closely, this activity turns out to be i4llegal. . . . "We hope that the Information Commissioner will take careful note of our analysis when he expresses his opinion upon the scheme."

ALSO SEE: Web inventor's warning on Phorm spy software

posted by Lorenzo 9:24 AM