[murfitUK]

I've been following this thread from the beginning and would like to add my tuppenceworth.

There has been lots of talk of various legislation which may, or may not, be invoked to permit or prevent Phorm from happening. We can't rely on legislation to protect us - even if Phorm is found to be unlawful today there is nothing to stop the government from changing the law tomorrow to allow it.

This issue is about money. Full stop.

VM wants to make money from us as subscribers. VM also wants to make money by handing our details to Phorm. Phorm wants to make money from advertisers. And advertisers want to make money from us - when we click and buy their products.

Without advertisers, Phorm will not exist.

The only way we can really stop this is to make it clear to potential advertisers that we will campaign to boycott their products. Not just their web-based selling sites but high street stores as well. Can we find out which companies have expressed an interest in Phorm? If so, it is those companies we need to put pressure on.

Remember, the Guardian withdrew - they said it didn't phit (sorry, fit) into the ethos of the newspaper, but I bet they got phrightened (sorry, frightened) when they saw the strength of feeling of the public. I myself have taken the Guardian for 25 years and wrote to the editor to say I would stop if they signed up. I like to think that, however small, my protest helped them come to their senses.

Let's set up a boycott site and target the retailers - without the retailers and their adverts, Phorm will not exist.