[AlexanderHanff]

Originally Posted by 80/20Thinking

Of course I don't mean to imply you or anyone else is narrow minded. That wasn't my intent, and it would be plain wrong and rude to say so. I'm merely trying to point out that on a day to day basis I have to balance a very unpleasant spectrum of privacy issues, so I hope you can understand where I'm coming from. In some respects I'm angry at myself for spending so much precious time dealing with people's perceptions rather than the hard reality of my tasks as an activist. Many of you are deeply disappointed and angry with me, but I am getting old and I don't know how much time I have left to stand Canute-like before this awful tide. I am alleged to be the most ferocious privacy activist around, and yet I have singularly failed to stop the encroachment of the surveillance society, even with so much help from people like yourselves.

That doesn't mean I treat the Phorm issue any less seriously than you would wish. However I am also aware of the tectonic shifts that are happening in the online world and I'm doing my best to position myself, and others, so we can best understand and engage.

I have been reluctant to say this, because it's really nobody's business but my own, but I have not personally received a penny from Phorm. 80/20 has, but I am not drawing any salary or retainer from 80/20. The money goes to the development of the organisation and to the causes that we seek to help. In the future, I may draw a salary, but not now or in the forseeable future.

Simon

Simon, as I have said before and will continue to say in the future, I have the greatest respect and admiration for the work you have done with PI over the years and I am proud to say that such work has inspired me to change my career. Let me promise you that my opinion on this will never change, it is seen by myself and many others as utterly selfless and incredibly important.

I also respect your right to earn a living and have no concerns over 80/20 Thinking's business plan and can even see why you started the company in the first place. I agree, it is easier to fight from the inside out, which is what 80/20 Thinking in spirit, is all about.

But you also need to respect that it is very difficult for people who have been following this issue, not to perceive you (and 80/20 Thinking) as PR paid for by Phorm. I accept that it is not entirely your fault that this perception has arisen as well, the first storm was caused by Phorm stating they had the approval of PI.

But sadly, as I am sure you know yourself, first impressions stick and unfortunately that is the impression people have of 80/20s role in this issue.

I was admittedly a little harsh in my earlier post where I referred to you as the enemy and a defector, for that I apologise, but in my defence I have worked very hard and put a great deal of time into this issue and as such it is very difficult to not have the occasional emotional outburst (which even you have been guilty of on more than one occasion since this issue arose).

I just don't see how anything is going to change public opinion (or the legal issues) with regards to Phorm and their plans, not in the current social and political climate.

I would also like to thank you for taking the time on a Sunday to answer our questions on this forum.

I would beg you not to take offence at people's reactions even if they do sometimes go a bit over the top. We are all human beings and when things upset us, we lash out, that's human nature and we simply have to wear a thicker skin to deal with that.

Alexander Hanff