Quote:
Originally Posted by warescouse
Armed with the initial FOI request scans by Dephormation and when we have fully consumed the interesting information contained within, we should consolidate ideas for our next best move or plan of attack so to speak.
We should attempt to ensure that further requests are precisely worded to fill any missing gaps that have come to light after the last disclosures. The more loose ends we can tie up the better we can fight this illegal WebWise interception.
It is fairly obvious the Phorm and Kent are doing the rounds, so to speak, with the influential community and it is up to us to ensure that our counter claims are well targeted.
Knowledge is power as Kent would like to think and although we are doing a great job I still think we are playing catch up. There is probably about 98% of the population still to educate. Unless Phorm and BT get hit by one of the Big Boys (please, please) who object to Phorm illegaly creaming off their own legal cake we must ensure we do not sit back and pat ourselves on the back just yet.
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I have just received a response from my MP regarding Phorm. My enquiry was forwarded to BERR and the response received was from Shriti Vadera of BERR.
The letter explained that ISP's have announced plans to track internet activity using phorm's Webwise and OIX products. It continued to explain that phorm replaces ads with ones relevant to the customer's web browsing meaning less irrelevant ads. (Standard info - nothing new).
She went on to say that she was aware that some ISP customers have voiced concerns about disclosure to third parties about their web browsing and said she understood those concerns. She also stated that the Government is committed to ensuring that peoples privacy is fully protected and that we have legislation in place for this purpose and consequently the ICO has been looking at the proposals to ensure that any use of phorm is compatible with the relevant privacy legislation. With the letter was a printed copy of the ICO view from the ICO website.
She went on to say that the Home Office had advised Phorm on how the use of phorm might be affected by RIPA. She also stated that both the ICO and herself had discussed details of the upcoming trial with BT and seems satisfied that BT's confirmation that customers' web browsing will only be monitored and ads delivered if they opt-in to the trial.
In light of information that is appearing in the online press and the FoI documents, I wonder if she really does understand the concerns and if this Government really is committed to protecting privacy.
With reference to Phorm's document titled 'Phorm informed consent update', a sentence in the document reads: 'Since Phorm technology does not use IP addresses to target advertising there is a strong argument that section 7 of PECR does not apply'.
It is easy now to see why Phorm continually state that the Home Office and ICO are comfortable with webwise, they are both quoting different sets of legislation. A bit like madslug's arson versus theft analogy.