Phorm

[G UK]

For those that dont know already Phorm have got deals with three ISP's, BT, Virgin Media & Talk Talk (Carphone Warehouse), to install deep packet inspection kit in their networks and monitor everything their customers do online in order to target adverts at them, this is something the government would require a court order to do and is tantamount to wiretapping of your phone or all your post being read.

There is a supposed opt out but this only stops the adverts from appearing your browsing data is still monitored and analysed

In 2006 & 2007 BT ran trials of this kit without informing there customers breaking RIPA and possibly DPA laws, there is currently a lawsuit being put together by some of those affected.

People may recognise Phorm by their previous name of 121media the spyware and rootkit maker. Because of their dodgy past I dont see why people should have to trust them with there personal data.

This has myself and many other extremely annoyed. These idiots must be stopped whilst some privacy still remains.

Some Light Reading on the Subject

Simple to understand non-technical explanation
www.inphormationdesk.org/

Protest site
www.badphorm.co.uk/

Legal paper (under construction)
www.paladine.org.uk/phorm_paper.pdf

Cable forum thread:
www.cableforum.co.uk

Petition:
[url=petitions.pm.gov.uk/ispphorm/]petitions.pm.gov.uk/ispphorm/[/url]

List of Article links
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/29/phorm_roundup/

Edit: Oops forgot to name and shame

[John_W]

For those that dont know already Phorm have got deals with these three ISP's ...

Which three ISPs? So that I can avoid them.

This is the sort of invidious invasion of privacy which has become the norm over the last decade and which I find obnoxious.

John

[G UK]

Oops, edited out some swearing that was in for another forum and removed the names, fixed now. The ISP's involved are:

BT
Virgin Media
Talk Talk (Carphone Warehouse)

This hasn't been implemented yet and is being challenged but BT have carried out secret trials which are drawing legal complaints.