Cable Forum - View Single Post - Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]

phormwatch · 13-07-2008, 17:30

Brandon

Sir,

No one can fault you for wanting to be treated fairly, nor for treating other people fairly. It is admirable that you thought of one of Phorm employee's daughter when considering whether to take the post down. However, with much respect, I do think you're being a little bit naive on this issue.

Firstly, I seriously doubt that anybody's job would be on the line because of what happened. Secondly, it's great that you received an apology from Phorm, but I ask you to seriously consider their motive for apologising. Can you honestly say it is because they were concerned about the way they treated you, or do you think, perhaps, it had a lot to do with preserving their business reputation?

If you don't know much about Phorm, or its history, then that may not be an easy question to answer. Many of us in the on-line community have had extensive dealings with Phorm and its army of PR henchmen. For most of us, we would definitely say it is the latter rather than the former.

Remember, this is the same company which, along with BT, carried out covert trials of its spyware technology on hundreds of thousands of broadband users without their consent. It is the same company which has repeatedly tried to obfuscated the issues and 'manage' the backlash from the on-line community by hiring no less than five PR firms.

I'm sorry that you have been offended by some of the posts on your blog. Many of us feel very passionate about this issue. Please consider that while you were concerned about the welfare of the daughter of an employee of Phorm, many of us are equally concerned about the damage that this company is doing to people's confidence in their on-line privacy and security.

If you would like to understand more about why so many people are upset about this company and their spyware technology, you could do worse than start with the Wikipedia entry on Phorm:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorm

I would then suggest you have a look at this:

http://www.phonecallsuk.co.uk/bt-webwise.html

'Webwise' is the named brand of the Phorm spyware technology which BT hope to implement.

Again, I am sorry if anyone has offended you. I hope that you will investigate Phorm in more depth and come to your own conclusions. We think the facts speak for themselves.

In my opinion, this is not a company to be trusted by any means.

13-07-2008, 17:30	#11664
phormwatch Inactive Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 254	Re: Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797] Brandon Sir, No one can fault you for wanting to be treated fairly, nor for treating other people fairly. It is admirable that you thought of one of Phorm employee's daughter when considering whether to take the post down. However, with much respect, I do think you're being a little bit naive on this issue. Firstly, I seriously doubt that anybody's job would be on the line because of what happened. Secondly, it's great that you received an apology from Phorm, but I ask you to seriously consider their motive for apologising. Can you honestly say it is because they were concerned about the way they treated you, or do you think, perhaps, it had a lot to do with preserving their business reputation? If you don't know much about Phorm, or its history, then that may not be an easy question to answer. Many of us in the on-line community have had extensive dealings with Phorm and its army of PR henchmen. For most of us, we would definitely say it is the latter rather than the former. Remember, this is the same company which, along with BT, carried out covert trials of its spyware technology on hundreds of thousands of broadband users without their consent. It is the same company which has repeatedly tried to obfuscated the issues and 'manage' the backlash from the on-line community by hiring no less than five PR firms. I'm sorry that you have been offended by some of the posts on your blog. Many of us feel very passionate about this issue. Please consider that while you were concerned about the welfare of the daughter of an employee of Phorm, many of us are equally concerned about the damage that this company is doing to people's confidence in their on-line privacy and security. If you would like to understand more about why so many people are upset about this company and their spyware technology, you could do worse than start with the Wikipedia entry on Phorm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorm I would then suggest you have a look at this: http://www.phonecallsuk.co.uk/bt-webwise.html 'Webwise' is the named brand of the Phorm spyware technology which BT hope to implement. Again, I am sorry if anyone has offended you. I hope that you will investigate Phorm in more depth and come to your own conclusions. We think the facts speak for themselves. In my opinion, this is not a company to be trusted by any means.