Quote:
Originally Posted by none
Well here’s something interesting. Reading the comments here - http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/blog/p,297/#comments
Note comment 7 is a response from someone on the tech team at techteam@phorm.com
The part that interested me was this,
“Re the opt out, if you opt out  or switch the system off, it’s off. 100%. No browsing data whatsoever is passed from the ISP to Phormâ€Â
So they say that once opted out that no data passes to Phorm. Interesting. Still don’t believe it, but interesting statement nevertheless. |
Funnily enough the same person responded to my questions, on of all places, a website for a labour councillor called Bob Piper
Link:
http://www.bobpiper.co.uk/2008/03/theyve_got_phorm.php
My question was:
"Would you care to explain how the 'Opt Out' works ? I suspect that by opt out what is really meant is that a machine will not be targeted with adverts. Can you really explain exactly how the opt out process works in a technical manner and not by just referencing the website you can go to to click 'opt out' as this explains nothing. Most importantly, if someone has decided to opt out, will any data what so ever be sent from the ISP network across to the Phorm network for any form of processing ?"
To which Techteam answered:
"When you opt out -- or switch the system off, it's off. 100%. No browsing data whatsoever is passed from the ISP to Phorm. We should be clear that the Phorm servers are located in the ISP's network and browsing data is not transmitted outside the ISP. Even if you are opted out websites will still show you ads (as they do now) but these will not be adverts from the OIX system and they will not be relevant to your browsing."
The bit about the Phorm server being located in the ISP network is interesting, it also raises the question of whether data still gets processed if you opt out. They may still be processing it from the Phorm servers in the ISP's network, just not passing this from the ISP network to the Phorm network. I'm just concerned they maybe playing with words here.
I for one would like to see them state that if you opt out, then it is off 100%. None of your data whatsoever is touched, processed, sniffed, manipulated, profiled by Phorm whether internal or external to your ISP. I am also concered that we will still only have their word on how things work, they wouldn't be the first company to bend the truth when it comes to things like this. So basically even if what they say regarding this turns out to be true, I'm still not happy with it and will still be going to another ISP that has nothing to do with Phorm.