After all the accusations of conflicts of interests (see for example 80/20 Thinking drops advisory work, after accusations of conflict of interest), Privacy International have apparently made a public statement concerning the implications of deep packet inspection on privacy. Oddly, you can read the statement at the nodpi website (Privacy International's Official Reponse on Deep Packet Inspection), but I can't see a mention yet at Privacy International's website. Perhaps the announcement at nodpi.org is connected with the announcement in the statement that the driving force behind nodpi, Alex Hanff, has joined the PI team on this matter:
To this end, we are pleased to announce a new addition to our team. Alexander Hanff, a social scientist and technologist who has led a long campaign against the use of Deep Packet Inspection for behavioural advertising models in the UK, will be taking the lead for Privacy International on these issues.
Actually, I can't think of anyone better suited to this, and perhaps in light of the at times bizarre conversations going on at the badphorm.co.uk forum (see this example) between Simon Davies (of PI and 80/20 Thinking) and the regular contributors, this is a welcome move.
Still, all in all, I suppose this statement is better late than never. It is interesting in not mentioning Phorm, but also in that it does take a wider view of the problem, bringing in the issue of mobile technologies and cloud computing.