Hi
I felt I should register here as I'm yet another avid lurker of this thread - I can usually be seen posting somewhat gloating messages in the comments section of particularly Phorm damaging articles @El Reg!
Respect to all here!
With regard to NebuAd whose Phorm like spyware is already deployed by a great many ISP's the other side of the pond. NebuAd is an Opt-Out cookie driven system based on consent via contractual small print - identical to the business model Phorm would need to rely on to bring in any kind of worthwhile revenue for their "poor hard up" UK ISP customers!
Here's their FAQ:
http://www.nebuad.com/privacy/servicesPrivacy.php
Some of my personal fave snippets:
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"While NebuAd does not require or process any end-user personally-identifiable information for the purpose of delivering advertisements, our partners may have different privacy practices than our own."
"We may also disclose information we have collected when we have a good-faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of such information is reasonably necessary"
"If NebuAd becomes involved in a merger, acquisition, or any form of sale of a majority or all of its assets, any information we have collected may be one of the assets transferred."
"The information we collect is stored and processed on NebuAd’s servers in the United States. As a result, that information may be subject to access requests by governments, courts or law enforcement."
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How about that! And to think Kent Ertugrul assumed he was going to be able to get away with that kind of cr@p here! Encouraged, undoubtably, by the "official" bodies he has approached in the UK in order to validate this blatently intrusive and seemingly illegal system who all seem to have intimated that, possibly for the benefit of their own hidden agendas, if he can pull it off they'll turn a blind eye!!
Well without the efforts of the forum members here plus other likeminded individuals on the Net and not forgetting El Reg then the above would already be included in the T&Cs of the top 5 ISPs in the UK - You know it would!!
@Alexander Hanff - If only I'd have had something this juicy to base my dissertation on!
Thanks
Paul