Peter N

At the risk of repeating myself (I've asked this before but it's still relevent and still unanswered)

If ISPs want to profile their customers' data and they are so sure that customers are happy to allow this in return for targetted adverts, why not release Webwise as a browser add-on and allow people to download it.

All of the profiling would be done on the user's PC saving BT and Phorm the cost of installing and maintaining dedicated equipment. There would be no need to fake cookies as the application would send the profile data when they open the webpage and there would be no need for an extra copies to be made of the data so all information would remain entirely on the customer's PC. Add to that the fact that Phorm already have such software ready made from their previous spyware toolbar add-ons and you have to wonder what is going on.

This is a cheaper, safer and more effective solution than Phorm's DPI based one so you have to ask the simple question:-

Why are the ISPs so fired up about using DPI to get information that can be obtained much more cost effectively and with no legal problems through existing methods?

Could it be because the system I suggest can only be used to deliver adverts and can't be subverted into other uses such as surveillance or personal profiling?