Well yippee do da, I've had a reply from my MEP !
Quote:
Re: Phorm and internet privacy
Thank you for your email regarding the use of Phorm software by Internet Service Providers. This is an issue that the Liberal Democrats have been aware of a while.
My colleague in Westminster, Don Foster, who is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for culture, media and sport, recently wrote to the Chairman of BT asking him to account for the company's secret piloting of the Phorm system last summer. BT has now said that its trial was a purely technical one and that no personal information was processed, stored or disclosed.
As far as I'm aware, EU regulation states that subscribers must be given full explanation about how information relating to their online activities will be used before they themselves consent to it being used by third parties. The UK Information Commissioner has clarified this to an extent, ruling that internet users must opt-in to Phorm rather than opt-out, which is encouraging - especially as far as less experienced internet users are concerned.
But I realise that there are still many questions surrounding exactly how this opt-in system will work in practice. At a public hearing in January the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee came to general agreement that IP addresses constitute personal data, and, as such, any threat to their security must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
My Liberal Democrat colleague in the European Parliament, Liz Lynne MEP has recently written to Ofcom and the Minister responsible for Information Rights to ask what is being done to ensure that consumer rights to online privacy are being upheld by internet service providers.
In light of concerns raised by a number of my constituents I have also submitted a written question to the European Commission on this issue.
Please be assured that this is an issue that the Liberal Democrats are taking very seriously. I will be in touch again when my colleague receives a reply to her letters and I receive an answer from the European Commission.
Yours sincerely
Fiona Hall MEP
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Excellent reply. Looks like she's fully aware of the current situation - and firmly on our side.
"The UK Information Commissioner has clarified this to an extent, ruling that internet users must opt-in to Phorm rather than opt-out, which is encouraging - especially as far as less experienced internet users are concerned."
I really can't see how Phorm, BT or anyone else can continue to say that their opt-out process meets legislation. Even My MEP has interpreted the ICO as saying it must be opt-in!