[ NNSquad ] Phorm announces independent review of its source code.

["Kyle Rosenthal" <kr@dpacket.org>]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/19/phorm_8020_pi/

   [ This story has a number of interesting aspects.  The horrendous Phorm
     concept seems to be imploding rapidly, and offering source code
     inspection at this stage seems like passing around copies of White Star's
     business plan for the Titanic while the ship was sinking.  As I've said
     before, the *only* way something like Phorm could be even remotely
     acceptable would be on a fully-opt-in basis, and even then it would be
     seriously questionable.  Phorm's PR agency reached out to me some days
     ago offering me a call with Phorm's CEO, but though I'm usually willing
     to chat with almost anyone, I politely declined since I couldn't see any
     point to such a conversation at this time -- the underlying philosophical
     basis of Phorm is simply too flawed.

     This Register story also brings up some issues of concern regarding
     Privacy International.  They've taken some stances in the past as well
     that have seemed questionable at best.  I still recall their declaration
     that Google had/has the worst privacy policy of popular Net services.
     While I've certainly taken Google to task on some privacy issues over the
     years, by no stretch of the imagination would I call them the worst or
     anywhere near the worst, and I consider their privacy trend line to be
     significantly and encouragingly positive these days, though there's more
     work for them to do.  I don't know where Privacy International is coming
     from sometimes.

        -- Lauren Weinstein
           NNSquad Moderator ]