Thread: Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]
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Old 30-04-2008, 19:27   #5160
AlexanderHanff
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Re: Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]
Quote:
Originally Posted by SMHarman View Post
Well the user agent is the browser you are using to view the site.
This links back to if you are using a non phorm compliant browser such as safari it cannot profile.
What other user agent can they send?

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34...-post4626.html
One of the issues raised by Dr Clayton in his analysis on FIPR's web site was that if Phorm were to provide a unique user-agent content owners could add them to robots.txt specifying which (if any) areas of the web site they are permitted to access.

Of course Phorm don't want to release a unique user-agent because it just devalues their product even more if they give content owners a way to block them.

This of course follows the Opt-Out route instead of the Opt-In route (which is required under law) so there is a question of whether it is a necessary step but it does offer a limited compromise as Phorm have stated they will adhere to robots.txt

My argument is that any Opt-Out solution people agree to only helps to create an attitude that Opt-Out is ok when in fact the Law requires Opt-In.

The point I made above is that robots.txt is not a control mechanism in and of itself, it is an honour based rule set which can simply be ignored if Phorm so choose. It will not enforce access restrictions, we only have Phorm's word that they will adhere to it; which frankly is not good enough for me.

Alexander Hanff
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