NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] UK government: Phorm conformed to EU data laws
[ Edited down by Moderator ]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/7619297.stm
Published: 2008/09/16 15:03:25 GMT
BBC NEWS
UK government responds on Phorm
The government has outlined how a controversial online ad system can be
rolled out in the UK.
In response to EU questions about its legality, it said that it was happy
Phorm conformed to EU data laws.
But any future deployments of the system must be done with consent and
make it easy for people to opt out.
...
In its statement sent to the EU it said: "Users will be presented with an
unavoidable statement about the product and asked to exercise choice about
whether to be involved. Users will be able to easily access information on
how to change their mind at any point and are free to opt in or out of the
scheme."
...
"After conducting its enquiries with Phorm the UK authorities consider
that Phorm's products are capable of being operated in a lawful,
appropriate and transparent fashion," said a Berr statement.
...
One of the other original partners, Virgin Media said it was "still
evaluating the system". Carphone Warehouse said it would only run Phorm on
an opt-in basis.
Some believe systems such as Phorm are the only way to keep internet
service providers afloat in the future.
"There is a good economic argument for it and it can help fund better
content and services," said a Phorm spokesman.
But others have suggested that content owners might issue legal challenges
to the system.
"For the Googles and the Amazons of this world the system could be seen as
using their customer information as a foundation for someone else's
targeted advertising," said lawyer Nicholas Bohm who has been a fierce
critic of Phorm.
[ Of course, even in an opt-in environment (opt-out-only is
wiretapping, plain and simple) we could easily find ISPs
offering lower prices or higher bandwidth caps if you permit
them to spy on your data. So the situation could become coercive
for ISP subscribers very easily. The sooner that we can use
something like https://www.google.com, the better for Google
and its users!
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]