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

[tarka]

It seems like we aren't the only people that aren't too happy with BT.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/AL...613isRrYSF6-vw

[rryles]

Originally Posted by popper

remember though the main news outlets have something like a 2 day turnaround, so id expect any Tv footage to make it to screen by friday.

Not sure about a 2 day turnaround. I've appeared on local TV news hours after being filmed and a fair amount of national TV news is live.

Did anyone tell the BBC or the national Media at all?

[Wildie]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Did anyone tell the BBC or the national Media at all?

they was told but with the big council workers strike and other news a small agm protest is not on top of to do list but it be there somewhere.

[tarka]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Did anyone tell the BBC or the national Media at all?

There were a couple of people sending out press releases to the media. I'm not sure who the list included though.

[Privacy_Matters]

UK consumers have a deep mistrust of behavioural targeting and would ditch ISPs using it, research commissioned by NMA has found.

The report discovered almost two-thirds (65%) of UK adults would leave their ISP if it introduced be_havioural targeting, while 81% were in favour of opting out from receiving targeted online advertising.

http://www.nma.co.uk/Articles/38754/...aten+ISPs.html

Thanks to Dr Richard Clayton for the Link; via UKCrypto

[rryles]

Activists raise awareness over targeted advertising

http://www.networkworld.com/news/200...-targeted.html

[tarka]

interesting...

"Miller said BT officials visited her on Monday and assured her the Webwise system complies with the law."

They have still not given any reason why they believe it complies with the law. Only ever "assurances".

Honest Guv!

[phpscott]

Looking forward to reading a full run down of today's events. Will be keeping an eye on the media to see if anything is reported today.

Thank you to everyone who is at the protest and expressing our views.

Maiott

[jtechs]

Hi!

Back from the protest (left at 3pm)

All in all i think it was a great day, Personally I spoke to quite a few of the public and only a small percentage seemed to not care. (like around 5% of who i spoke with)

Most people (after discussing) agreed that it was generally a bad idea and some even took offense.

Although the turnout didnt start too well, by then mid-end it was good.. and from what i saw/spoke people did take notice and did approach me with questions, there was also a good amount of people who already seen/remember Phorm/BT from BBC so thats great news,

I was happy with the day and i think we came across as professional, concerned and dedicated people.

I handed out so many flyer's that i cannot even count!

even after the meeting had finished I had many comments regarding the questions placed to BT inside the meeting and that BT appeared to not 'get the message across' to some shareholders re: phorm.

Many thanks to all who attended and all the supporters, I cannot wait for the next protest!

I will upload all my videos and images tonight/tomorrow.

Ill let someone else fill in the gaps.. a better writer perhaps

[tarka]

many thanks for the update! am really pleased to hear it went well and that the public DO seem concerned by this despite what BT keep saying.

[madslug]

I can ditto jtechs comments.

Some of the folks coming out of the AGM were positively grabbing for the leaflet to learn more. As chance would have it, I traveled home on the train with a BT shareholder. As she said, most people did not have a clue what the questions about webwise were all about and were just looking at each other, none understanding anything. She was really happy to have a leaflet, and a few more for her contacts. When she asked how she could find out what was going on, I suggested that, as a shareholder she write to BT and explain that she would like more information about what was being discussed as she could not understand any of it.

Maybe some more shareholders will want to ask similar questions.

It was really good to meet some of the folks who have helped me out with many things phorm related. In case anyone is wondering, we are all just normal folks. The only difference being that we started talking about this before the rest. It was really great knowing that so many others were there with us in spirit.

The only disadvantage being that I was so busy talking to the public that I barely had time for more than a few words with the rest of those on the demonstration. For those I did not have a chance to thank personally, may I take this chance to thank you all publicly.

[Deko]

From advfn.

LONDON (Dow Jones)--The European Commission has warned the U.K. government it needs to take action to protect consumer privacy due to concerns about targeted advertising company Phorm Inc. (PHRM.LN), European Union communications commissioner Viviane Reding said Wednesday.

Reding said the commission was concerned Phorm was breaching consumer privacy directives and that the U.K. government needed to take action.

Phorm's technology tracks consumer activity on the Internet. The company has agreements with the U.K.'s three largest Internet service providers - BT Group PLC (BT), Carphone Warehouse's (CPW.LN) Talk Talk and Virgin Media.

"It is very clear in E.U. directives that unless someone specifically gives authorization (to track consumer activity on the Web) then you don't have the right to do that," Reding said. She said she was "a little bit worried about this development, and as a result her office sent pre-warning letter to U.K. authorities earlier this month.

If the U.K. government didn't resolve the issue, the commission could take it to the European Court of Justice.

A Phorm spokesman said he wasn't aware of this development. He said the company complies with all the relevant U.K. laws.

found a link
http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-act...argeted-488767

Update to story.

UPDATE: EU Wants UK Govt To Probe Targeted Advertising

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

(Adds background, comment from BT.)

LONDON (Dow Jones)--The European Commission has warned the U.K. government it needs to take action to protect consumer privacy due to concerns about targeted advertising company Phorm Inc. (PHRM.LN), European Union communications commissioner Viviane Reding said Wednesday.

Reding said the commission was concerned Phorm was breaching consumer privacy directives and the U.K. government needed to take action.

Phorm's technology tracks consumer activity on the Internet. The company has agreements with the U.K.'s three largest Internet service providers - BT Group PLC (BT), Carphone Warehouse's (CPW.LN) Talk Talk and Virgin Media.

"It is very clear in E.U. directives that unless someone specifically gives authorization (to track consumer activity on the Web) then you don't have the right to do that," Reding said. She said she was "a little bit worried about this development," and as a result her office sent a pre-warning letter to U.K. authorities earlier this month.

If the U.K. government didn't resolve the issue, the commission could take it to the European Court of Justice.

A Phorm spokesman said he wasn't aware of this development. He said the company complies with all the relevant U.K. laws.

In April, Phorm hired Jeffrey Brooks Dobbs, previously vice president of privacy and government affairs at Google's (GOOG) DoubleClick, as its chief privacy officer.

A U.K. government spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment.

A BT spokesman said BT plans to launch a new technical trial using Phorm's technology this summer called BT Webwise. The service will give customers "a more secure online experience, fewer irrelevant advertisements and greater control over their privacy," he said.

He said customers would volunteer for this service. BT had sought legal advice during previous trials of the technology in 2006 and 2007 and "always acted in good faith."

-By Erica Herrero-Martinez, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9353; erica.herrero-martinez@dowjones.com

Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

[serial]

Also back from the protest, the day went really well. Dephormation Pete was our inside man, I'll let him fill you in when he gets back, but trust me it's worth the wait

Handed out loads of fliers, lots of shareholders came over, like madslug said, and asked us to explain what Webwise was. Also after the AGM between 3.30 - 4.30 there was a BT emloyees meeting also at the Barbican, needless to say they got a load of fliers also.

BT employee "WHAT! BT ARE DOING THAT?"

Looks like the PIA is finished, I'll let Alex explain all in his report.

Great to meet those that turned up.

[pseudonym]

Originally Posted by Privacy_Matters

UK consumers have a deep mistrust of behavioural targeting and would ditch ISPs using it, research commissioned by NMA has found.

The report discovered almost two-thirds (65%) of UK adults would leave their ISP if it introduced be_havioural targeting, while 81% were in favour of opting out from receiving targeted online advertising.

http://www.nma.co.uk/Articles/38754/...aten+ISPs.html

Thanks to Dr Richard Clayton for the Link; via UKCrypto

"The research reveals deep concern about targeting and highlights a need for greater education."

So they think they can educate us into accepting being spied on?

I think the ISPs and purveyors of webspyware systems that need education.