Author Topic: Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)  (Read 2433 times)

Offline Highmac

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Neil
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Offline sandyman

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Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2008, 09:23:49 AM »
Neil

I spotted that this morning. Immediately afterwards I noticed a delicious smell wafting around the house.  It took me a couple of minutes to work out what it was,  the smell of Goose being cooked.

For those of you who may be unaware of the full story, you can check out The Register.  Just search on Phorm. I had thought start a post on this issue but decided against for a few reasons

It has become quite political with a p and a P. With a small p because there is always going to be a long debate about the pros and cons of web advertising. With a capital P because it has implications regarding Data Protection Laws in the UK.  They are much stricter over here than in the US.  

Some of the language used in the comments pages is "Ripe" to say the least and so I did not want to contravene TS's rules on this. There have also been suggestions as to how to take actions against Phorm which would probably be illegal

It is, so far mainly a UK issue, although I believe that it "may" have been going on in the US for some time.  Some companies have allegedly just changed some of their Terms and Conditions to allow this sort of activity.

On a personal level, my ISP is Virginmedia is one of the three who have signed up with Phorm.  I decided days ago that unless the system was implemented on an opt-in basis and with none of my data going to  the profiling server that I would change my provider.  For me it would entail getting my 'phone line reconnected at a cost of £125 ($250) but that's a price I'm willing to pay to protect my privacy and my data stream.

Sandy
« Last Edit: March 17, 2008, 10:10:46 AM by sandyman »

Offline Highmac

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Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2008, 10:10:27 AM »
Thanks Sandy - I hadn't had time to follow through to The Register link, so I hope others will bear your warning in mind. smile.gif
Neil
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Offline sandyman

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Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2008, 04:03:10 AM »
From a comment on The Register it would appear that profiling is already happening in the US

"Any chance of El Reg getting an interview with Sir Tim and finding out his views on the US, Canada, EU, UK, Asia, Australia profiling which is already happening (NebuAd, FrontPorch, Adzilla, etc): mostly with no more notification than a change to the T&Cs on the ISPs' web sites or pop-up T&Cs when using hot-spots via wi-fi."


Sandy

Offline Highmac

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Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2008, 05:59:27 AM »
Sandy: I'm with VirginMedia as well, but not the cable setup; broadband over BT line, which would make it easier to change ISPs. However, I've been with them since 1999 (when it really was Virgin and not NTL) and had no problems. I would not really want to change now.

And even if I did, how would I know the new one wasn't doing just the same - or would in a few months time!
Neil
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Offline sandyman

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Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2008, 07:59:49 AM »
QUOTE(Highmac @ Mar 18 2008, 10:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sandy: I'm with VirginMedia as well, but not the cable setup; broadband over BT line, which would make it easier to change ISPs. However, I've been with them since 1999 (when it really was Virgin and not NTL) and had no problems. I would not really want to change now.

And even if I did, how would I know the new one wasn't doing just the same - or would in a few months time!


Neil

I've been with them since 1996, United Artists/Telewest/NTL/Virgin.  Broadband since 1999.  I would rather not move either but if they carry on like this I'll go to Zen or Be who have stated that they will never get involved in this type of scam.


Sandy

Offline Paddy

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Tim Berners-Lee rejects webtracking (phorm)
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2008, 11:11:58 AM »
Yeah, this sort of thing has been going on in the US and Canada for a while apparently. Not sure how prevalent it is yet, but there are companies  like Adzilla and NebuAd who sell exactly this sort of service:

http://venturebeat.com/tag/coadzilla/

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