Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter N
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.
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You are forgetting that what a user downloads will be copied from their browser cache and used for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. This makes the person downloading the content liable for infringement, jointly liable with the person supplying the method of making the copy. Do you think anyone will be happy when the web site owner contacts their ISP with a letter demanding payment for copyright infringement? - with music and videos they are complaining enough about warning letters.
There are already many much easier solutions. Sites where you can register your interests and be rewarded with seeing adverts for related products, including discount codes so that you can even save some money in exchange with sharing your interests. No browsing is intercepted, and you don't have to even visit related sites to be shown the ads you are interested in. Everything is coded and scripted on just one site.
Look at how popular the existing discount code sites are and they don't even ask for any information about your interests.