Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]

Originally Posted by Kursk

I wonder where the PR people are these days? We can be sure that those involved won't be sitting on their thumbs; the stakes are too high. Incidentally, did anyone else have trouble accessing the forum recently? Was the forum down temporarily?

I've noticed my history links take me to the main page of the board instead of this thread.

Somethings changed ~ glitch in the matrix?

[Dephormation]

Originally Posted by R Jones

According to BT you can tell them the site names and ask them to be added to Phorm/Webwise block list and they won't visit you. that's what they told me when I informed them they did not have consent to visit my websites.

Be wary about this.

You are co-operating with an (IHMO) illegal method of operation.

It is not the responsibility of web site operators to make BT's Phorm system legal.

It is BT's responsibility to obtain *consent* from all parties to a communication interception, not your responsibility to deny it.

Pete.

[Ravenheart]

Originally Posted by Kursk

I wonder where the PR people are these days? We can be sure that those involved won't be sitting on their thumbs; the stakes are too high. Incidentally, did anyone else have trouble accessing the forum recently? Was the forum down temporarily?

There has been a problem with the forum, an Admin is working on it

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/27...-is-blank.html

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Ravenheart

There has been a problem with the forum, an Admin is working on it

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/27...-is-blank.html

Thank you

Originally Posted by Ravenheart

There has been a problem with the forum, an Admin is working on it

Thanks

[Ravenheart]

Hey no problem Kursk & Paul

It seems that the Ofcom Consumer Panel have also raised a concern about privacy issues

http://www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk/news/270308.htm

I'll contact them with the concerns about Phorm, and see what response they give.

[tdadyslexia]

Originally Posted by SBD

Will you be opting out of the Virgin Ad Deal? = Yes, Definitely.

Me to!

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by R Jones

According to BT you can tell them the site names and ask them to be added to Phorm/Webwise block list and they won't visit you. that's what they told me when I informed them they did not have consent to visit my websites.

This is wrong. As I understand it, the websites need to provide consent to be included, not ask to be removed from the scheme. Still, what can you expect from a company that has been illegally monitoring their customers and lying about it?

[Rchivist]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

This is wrong. As I understand it, the websites need to provide consent to be included, not ask to be removed from the scheme. Still, what can you expect from a company that has been illegally monitoring their customers and lying about it?

My statement is correct. BT do say that. Whether that position represents the legal realities is another matter. I never said BT were planning a legal system!

But they have said publicly that websites can ask to be Phorm blocklisted - and I'm keen that several million website owners contact them and ask.

[OF1975]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3768302.ece

PC Plod doesn't have the time or inclination to investigate a minimum of 108,000 criminal violations of RIPA by BT and Phorm but they do have the time to prosecute a 19 year old with downs syndrome who has a mental age of 5 for racial assault just for pushing an asian girl also with special needs.

Disgraceful. No wonder they don't have time to investigate BT/Phorm when this is the kind of madness that is going on in this country.

[tdadyslexia]

Originally Posted by R Jones

But they have said publicly that websites can ask to be Phorm blocklisted - and I'm keen that several million website owners contact them and ask.

Why should we contact BT, and waste our time?

[Rchivist]

Originally Posted by tdadyslexia

Why should we contact BT, and waste our time?

It was more BT's time I was hoping to waste. After all - many here have devoted hours to convincing our ISPs that this Phorm/Webwise malarkey has to stop. I know I have. When I told BT they simply did not have my consent to monitor anyone's data exchange with my sites, they agreed to list the sites. If many millions of website owners all emailed a similar request to members of BT management I think they'd notice, and it would inconvenience BT a lot more than it would inconvenience the website owners individually.
My position is that if BT want to make ill-prepared statements and expose themselves to this sort of stupidity, I am very happy to help them receive the consequences of their rashness. And having to answer a very large number of communications from Website owners in the next month could well get their attention.
It might even be that they begin to see the folly of their ways.

And of course we also need a lot of websites who simply quietly put a text notice on their sites stating that Webwise profiling is not allowed, and then monitor their logs to spot when Webwise does pass by, and then report the matter to the relevant body (which body that would be is still being clarified by good folks here).

---------- Post added at 14:42 ---------- Previous post was at 14:32 ----------

Originally Posted by bigbadcol

Who do I contact at BT to have my sites excluded?

I do not want my sites being used to profit anybody. I do not have and never will have adverts on my site. I do not want Phorm to profit by profiling my work and and using it for profit.

Thanks

col

Well you could try the lady doing the media appearances for BT in recent news stories - Emma Sanderson. The standard for emailing a BT executive is firstnameDOTlastnameATbtDOTcom

If you browse through the BT Beta forum threads here you could pick up a few more managerial monikers

http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...art=0&tstart=0
http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...=2615&tstart=0
http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...=3152&tstart=0

I'd be interested to know how you get on.

---------- Post added at 14:54 ---------- Previous post was at 14:42 ----------

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Do you think 'they' would tell us if there was?

BT have 'fessed up to 2 secret trials so far which they claim to have been legal. Others who were monitored during the trials and who suffered browser hijacks are consulting solicitors.

The latest BT trial was supposed to have started in March and is constantly being delayed- which greatly encourages me, because I think they are struggling to find a legal model even for the trial, given the latest pronouncements from ICO and Home Office etc.I think they are now running a bit scared - making confident PR pronouncements, and pushing back the start date of the trials indefinitely.

They have promised to announce the start of the trials in the BT Beta forums, so if they keep their promise, we can let you know. Unfortunately experience does not give confidence, in the BT promises department.

[bigbadcol]

Originally Posted by R Jones

It was more BT's time I was hoping to waste. After all - many here have devoted hours to convincing our ISPs that this Phorm/Webwise malarkey has to stop. I know I have. When I told BT they simply did not have my consent to monitor anyone's data exchange with my sites, they agreed to list the sites. If many millions of website owners all emailed a similar request to members of BT management I think they'd notice, and it would inconvenience BT a lot more than it would inconvenience the website owners individually.
My position is that if BT want to make ill-prepared statements and expose themselves to this sort of stupidity, I am very happy to help them receive the consequences of their rashness. And having to answer a very large number of communications from Website owners in the next month could well get their attention.
It might even be that they begin to see the folly of their ways.

And of course we also need a lot of websites who simply quietly put a text notice on their sites stating that Webwise profiling is not allowed, and then monitor their logs to spot when Webwise does pass by, and then report the matter to the relevant body (which body that would be is still being clarified by good folks here).

---------- Post added at 14:42 ---------- Previous post was at 14:32 ----------



Well you could try the lady doing the media appearances for BT in recent news stories - Emma Sanderson. The standard for emailing a BT executive is firstnameDOTlastnameATbtDOTcom

If you browse through the BT Beta forum threads here you could pick up a few more managerial monikers

http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...art=0&tstart=0
http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...=2615&tstart=0
http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...=3152&tstart=0

I'd be interested to know how you get on.

Many thanks for the Info. A job for tomorrow while at work I think.

BT have become so corrupt they can not see what they are doing, and the lack of any main stream media coverage is isolating them from a backlash.

I am sick of my elected representatives ignoring email and letters about this.

Maybe start a thread naming and shaming them. This close to an election, it may even remind them that it is the people who they work for, not vested interest.

Originally Posted by bigbadcol

I am sick of my elected representatives ignoring email and letters about this.

Maybe start a thread naming and shaming them. This close to an election, it may even remind them that it is the people who they work for, not vested interest.

Yep, a bit frustrating to say the least isn't it. But it's not just you they are ignoring... If the Earl Of Northesk can't have an answer to his question to the government about Phorm (which was due on March 17th) then there's quite possibly more behind the delays we're seeing than we know about at this time...

Hank

[Rchivist]

Originally Posted by bigbadcol

Many thanks for the Info. A job for tomorrow while at work I think.

BT have become so corrupt they can not see what they are doing, and the lack of any main stream media coverage is isolating them from a backlash.

I am sick of my elected representatives ignoring email and letters about this.

Maybe start a thread naming and shaming them. This close to an election, it may even remind them that it is the people who they work for, not vested interest.

Do you contact your MP's via http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ ? the advantage of using that site is that they DO take the trouble to ask you later, if your MP replied and they collect stats on it.