PLEASE READ - Internet privacy as we know it could be at stake here!

Three of the six major internet service providers in the UK - BT, Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse's 'Talk Talk' - signed a deal to allow a company called Phorm to collect what they claim to be 'anonymous' data about people's browsing habits in order to display more 'relevant' advertising on web pages they visit. Phorm offers this under the guise of something called 'Webwise', a service that also claims to offer protection against internet scams. The service has not launched in the UK (despite their CEO's claim that it would launch in 2008, then 2009...)

There are numerous privacy issues associated with this service. In theory, you can 'opt out' of the webwise service, but in BT's and Phorm's explanation of how it worked in 2008, this did not stop your data travelling through Phorm's system. Supposedly, only data that is 'anonymous' will be sent to Phorm's server, but there will be no way to know if that is true. There is also no way for any software to determine what information on a page is 'anonymous', meaning that potentially any data you send over the internet (including credit card numbers and other highly private information) could end up on Phorm's servers to use however they choose. Even if Phorm was to merely store your IP address, that is still a violation of the Data Protection Act. There is just no way of knowing what Phorm's intentions are.

Many experts in the field of internet security express grave concern about Phorm, particularly as some employees of Phorm are known to have a history in creation of adware/spyware (software that installs itself on PCs without explicit consent, and is basically a data-stealing virus)

Don't take my word for it though... Visit http://www.badphorm.co.uk, or search for Phorm/Webwise and see for yourself.

After Phorm launched a desperate attack on private individuals (the StopPhoulPlay website) and a new servicecalled 'Webwise Discover' (which nobody is using?) we heard in July 2009 that BT distanced itself significantly from Phorm, but did not completely rule out using their system in the future. Then Carphone Warehouse TalkTalk went further - they will NOT use Phorm's Webwise. Well done TalkTalk! Virgin Media seems confused as to their position, but it's similar to BT.

Don't let ISPs surrender your data to Phorm. Tell them how you feel about them giving away your internet browsing habits to the highest bidder. Orange, Tiscali and Sky may also be considering adopting Phorm as part of their service - tell them how you feel too! In fact, just tell the whole world, because if we don't, every internet user in the UK may soon be left with no choice but to use an ISP infected with Phorm.

We still have a case file at the CPS under review (against BT Retail for the covert trials of 2006 & 2007) and there is an ongoing EU action against the UK Government because they have not implemented the protection for the public and taken action to stop the interception alleged conducted by BT (see Wikileaks BT leaked internal report).

HOW TO FIGHT BACK:

- Contact your MP, and ask him or her to raise the issue in parliament.
- Contact newspapers and other media outlets, and ask them to investigate the issue.
- Contact your ISP and tell them how you feel. Switch to another ISP that doesn't use Phorm if possible. Voting with your wallet is the form of protest businesses understand best!
- Inform everyone you know about this issue and how it could affect their privacy
- Complain through ISPA, an association to which some of the major ISPs belong:
http://www.ispa.org.uk/cgi-bin/complaints.cgi
- A previous petition to the government attracted over 21000 signatures, http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ispphorm/
There is a new petition you can sign here: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/dataprofiling/
- Register your concerns with all branches of the media, particularly investigative TV programmes like Watchdog. http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog
- Firefox users can use an add-on called Dephormation to permanently opt-out of Phorm, which also alerts you when you visit sites that are part of Phorm's ad network.
http://www.dephormation.org.uk/
- If you own or run a website, post the notice at the bottom of this section onto your website. This makes it illegal for Phorm to intercept any data going from/to your website, therefore they will be breaking the law when anyone with 'webwise' active visits the page!
This is an awareness issue, although joining this group will help it isn't enough - we need to take action, and lots of it.

RIPA NOTICE: NO CONSENT IS GIVEN FOR INTERCEPTION OF PAGE TRANSMISSION (read less)

PLEASE READ - Internet privacy as we know it could be at stake here!

Three of the six major internet service providers in the UK - BT, Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse's 'Talk Talk' - signed a deal to allow a company called Phorm to collect what they claim to be 'anonymous' data about people's browsing habits in order to display more 'relevant' advertising on web pages they visit. Phorm offers this under the guise of something called 'Webwise', a service that also claims to offer protection... (read more)