[dav]

This taken fom the VM feedback group...(thanks to Oar Wellin)

'Reply from EU Information, Society & Media Commissioner Viviane Reding

The Commission is aware of the activities of the company Phorm in the UK,
concerning the analysis of internet traffic for advertising purposes, the
agreement between Phorm and major internet service providers in the UK and
the concerns that have beep raised about the effects on privacy of these
activities. Privacy and the protection of personal data are fundamental
rights of the citizens of the EU. They are enshrined in Articles 7 and 8 of
the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and also protected by the European
Convention on Human Rights and the related instruments of the Council of
Europe, to which all EU Member States are signatories.

The general principles for the protection of personal data are defined in
Directive 95/46/EC and complemented and particularized for electronic
communications by Directive 2002/58EC on privacy and electronic
communications (ePrivacy Directive).

The ePrivacy Directive obliges Member States to ensue the confidentiality of
communications and related traffic data through national legislation. In
particular, they shall prohibit listening, tapping, storage or other kinds
of interception or surveillance of communication and the related traffic
data by persons other than the users without their consent, which must be
freely given, specific and informed indication of the user's wishes. The
data concerned in this particular matter i.e. the content of search queries,
constitute communication within the meaning of this Directive and the URLs
used in the packets constitute traffic data. This data should therefore be
protected appropriately.'