BBC announced today that BT was involved with using the internet ad serving technology Phorm between 2006 and 07, possibly meaning it faces legal action for “an illegal intercept of users’ data”.

BT made the claims that “a small scale technical test of a prototype advertising platform”. “The purpose of the test was to evaluate the functional and technical performance of the platform.”, Now to me thats a bit of a cop out statement, as it really has no comment on the critical point - has BT divulged its users personal data- i.e. a clear violation on privacy laws.

BT continues with its statement to say: “It is important for BT to ensure that before any new technologies are deployed, they are robust and fit for purpose. No personally identifiable information was processed, stored or disclosed during this test.”

This moves on to the second issue, which is where the real legal challeng lies:

“If the customers in 2006 and 2007 weren’t invited to do anything and it was completely surreptitious, and assuming that BT and Phorm trialled a version of what they are planning to launch later this year, then it was a massive scale illegal interception.

“They couldn’t at that stage have had any guidance from the Home Office, or had anything in writing, as nothing was issued until January this year.”

Basically meaning that if those involved with the trial were not aware they were involved this again is a violation of their privacy rights.

Point to note, is that not only is BT using this kind of adserving technology, but so are Virgin Media and TalkTalk

So I hear you as, why am I just a tad bit ticked off with all this? we for one, I use BT. More importantly however, was When I found out about this news I was watching BBC. A member of the IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau was involved in a TV interview, commenting that cookies were the cause of privacy violations in this instance, and recommended that users remove cookies, thats  just retareded piss-poor research that gives the unknown some semblance of reassurance.

Fact of the matter is, if the technology involved uses ISP data to match ads, then cookies have nothing to do with the advertising involved, thus, the IAB - which includes and affiliate marketing arm, have recommended that users delete cookies, one of the core ways affiliate tracking works. Wonderful, thanks very much.

If you’re bothered by Phorm have a look at this.
Need more info? check this out and this. 

If BT  fully begin using Phorm, I for one will defiantly be looking else where for an ISP provider, its a very clear line, my online information shouldn’t be passed on to third parties without my clear and written consent.