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[toulouse]

@Kitz,

Having read your latest on this dastardly scheme (Phorm), what can I and others actively do to prevent or hinder its introduction. I've signed the Downing Street petition, but I'm sure there is more that can be done. I just don't know what.

toulouse

[kitz]

Sorry toulouse, I must have missed your post earlier. :/

Theres not much really as general public can do other than spread the word about phorm and say we dont want it.
Some ISPs are anti-phorm.

Jelv seems pretty on the ball about whats happening and the latest news with them, so I trust him to keep us up to date of any developments and what we can do.

[jelv]

On BT's Support & Advice page there is a gimmicky facility called Ask Emma.

Usually I regard them as being pretty useless, but it seems that it in this case you are far more likely to get a truthful answer than you would from BT executives.

[jelv]

Jelv seems pretty on the ball about whats happening and the latest news with them, so I trust him to keep us up to date of any developments and what we can do.

As it happens there is something that everybody can do:



There's more information about the campaign on https://nodpi.org/

[jelv]

For a discussion of how Phorm will work, including how it forges cookies and the implications:



There is some discussion in the introduction, the main discussion starts at about the hour mark.

If you are reading the transcript from http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm search for "Let's talk about Phorms" to find the start of the main discussion.

[kitz]

I downloaded and listened to all that the other day.
Some very good and interesting points in there.

BTW for anyone who cant be bothered to sit through the whole  program theres links on grc.com of the show and transcripts available.

However, rather than wading through the whole programme, Ive copied the relevant bits related to phorm if anyone wants to read it which can be downloaded from here.

Copyright and credits still go to SteveGibson @ www.grc.com

[Floydoid]

Here's the latest news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7619297.stm

[kitz]

Thanks floydy

it was not making the entire letter public but instead outlined the main reasons why it considered Phorm to be legal.

OK so what are they hiding?  Why isnt it public information?
Or is it just me that this reeks of the undercover trials that occurred in the first place.
If Phorm has nothing to hide or be afraid of then there is no good reason why the information cant be in the public domain is there!

But it stressed that any profiling must be done "with the knowledge and agreement of the customer".

So it will be hidden in the depths of T+Cs somewhere then? 
What happened to opt in?

Some believe systems such as Phorm are the only way to keep internet service providers afloat in the future.

What a load of B$ 

[dave.m]

"Users will be presented with an unavoidable statement about the product and asked to exercise choice about whether to be involved."

A shade like the EULA in the Google Chrome before sect 11 was removed. 
I bet the 'Yes' box would be automatically ticked.

dave

[Floydoid]

BT are at it again: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7641754.stm

Telecoms giant BT is about to start further trials of a controversial internet advertising technology.

Developed by Phorm, the Webwise system watches what people do online and shows adverts tuned to their interests.

From 30 September, a sample of BT's customers will be invited to "opt in" to a trial of the technology.

Early trials ran without the consent of customers which led to complaints from rights groups who said this broke laws governing the interception of data.

[kitz]

 

[kitz]

I see the new trial has now actually started.

Taken from http://www2.bt.com/static/i/btretail/webwise/bt-webwise-trial.html

Customers who have been selected on an anonymous basis will be invited to participate in the trial via a special web page that will appear when they open their web browser:



Customers who see this page should simply choose either "Switch on BT Webwise" or "No Thanks", after which their choice will be recorded and they can continue browsing as normal. The invitation page will be shown on each computer connected to the selected broadband lines.

At any point during the trial, customers who have seen the invitation screen can turn BT Webwise on or off by clicking "BT Webwise On" or "BT Webwise Off" in the left-hand menu on this website (www.bt.com/webwise)

BT Webwise uses a cookie stored on trial customers' computers to remember their preference. If the cookie is deleted at any point, the invitation page will be displayed again. Customers wishing to switch off BT Webwise without using a cookie can do so by following the instructions here.

[Floydoid]

Is anyone actually going to be daft enough to sign up for this?

[roseway]

Unfortunately, yes. "BT Webwise" sounds like a useful feature, doesn't it? Lots of people will be taken in.

[Floydoid]

"BT Webwise"

Isn't that an oxymoron?