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In a brief article in The Guardian (Consumers will see benefits - The case for Phorm), Guy Phillipson and Nick Stringer the chief executive and head of regulatory affairs respectively at the Internet Advertising Bureau attempt to make the case for Phorm.  Of course, they are (in my opinion) slightly economical with the truth in that the objections of the "Privacy Pirates"* over at nodpi.org lies not with targeted advertising, but with the probably illegal interception of internet traffic via deep packet inspection.  The objections focus largely on privacy issues, on copyright issues (making copies of web pages without authorisation), and on legality (e.g. interception of communication).

It would seem that the EU share the objectors' concerns having repeatedly requested the UK Government to respond to their concerns about internet privacy.  Unfortunately HMG won't release their response to Commisioner Reding.  Messrs Phillipson and Stringer believe that Phorm have signed up to the AIB's principles of good practice.  But how sure can the consumer be where Phorm is concerned, given its past identity as 121media?

In the 36 hrs or so since the BT story broke and Carphone Warehouse followed suit, Phorm's share price has plummeted.  It may be that Phorm will need to refocus its work in non-EU states (such as Korea, where some sort of testing is said to be ongoing).  As long as they don't try it on here.  I left BT Broadband after many years over this fiasco, and don't intend to return, especially since the BT hierarchy still don't seem to "get it".

I am grateful to Alex Hanff and all his hard work in pushing this story, and keeping it topical.  His front page blog article at nodpi.org is really quite emotional.  let's hope this is the end...but I am pessimistic on that score.

*"Privacy Pirates" is the term that Phorm used to describe the privacy campaigners, over at their smear website.

According to The Times (Phorm stranded as BT and Carphone pull plug on online 'spying' technology), Carphone Warehouse, who's TalkTalk subsidiary were one of the ISPs lining up to use Phorm's invasive DPI technology, have now decided to fall into line an announce they would likewise not implement it.  BT's role as the market leader is evident:

After BT's move, Charles Dunstone, head of Carphone Warehouse, said: "We were only going to do it if BT did it and if the whole industry was doing it. We were not interested enough to do it on our own."

The remaining UK-based ISP with declared interest in Phorm's DPI, Virgin Media, look to be wavering as well:

Virgin is also reluctant, meaning that Phorm, whose non-executives include Lord Lamont, the former Chancellor, has lost Britain's three biggest internet groups, prompting analysts to question its future.

The battle doesn't end here - there are other devious systems out there waiting for a chance to be deployed.  In the meantime, Phorm's share price tanked yesterday.  According to The Times, Phorm shares fell by 40% yesterday.

As part of its authoritarian stance on everything the public do, the UK Government has set its sights on controlling ingress and egress across our borders, via the notorious 53 Questions that travellers will need to supply answers to before being allowed to travel.  This whole e-Borders shenanigans is projected to cost the UK Border Agency £1.3bn over the next 10 years.  And with the responsibility for collecting the data falling on the transport companies (ferry companies and airlines for example), it it likely that the traveller will have to cough up for the system, at least in part.  And of course, there is th issue that this applies to travel from the UK mainland to the Isle of Wight, making passports a requirement for internal travel.

Here's a list of the 53 pieces of information they will demand from us (courtesy of the Daily Mail)

Henry Porter blogs that Will EU law stop the e-Borders scheme? over at The Guardian, and points out that not only will the e-Borders scheme fall foul of European law, but that

In effect, requiring data from passengers will act as an exit visa, because without supplying answers to 53 questions people will not be able to travel. In one nasty data snatch the UKBA has found away of not only breaching the law on privacy enshrined in the Human Rights Act, but also EU treaties that guarantee the right of free movement.

Perhaps it's time the Government paused to take stock of its illiberal policies on data collection which directly and negatively impact on personal freedoms in the UK.

The Guardian reports (BT drops Phorm targeted ad service after customers cry foul over privacy) that BT have decided not to implement the vile DPI system for targeting adverts that has been devised by the former spyware company Phorm.  

The company, which has received complaints from customers about Phorm, said the decision was down to its need to conserve resources as it looks to invest £1.5bn in putting a next-generation super-fast broadband network within reach of 10 million homes by 2012. Privately, however, BT bosses have been increasingly concerned about consumer resistance to advertising based on monitoring users' online behaviour and specifically about the backlash against Phorm.

Of the other two ISPs linked to using Phorm, Virgin Media have apparently cooled on the idea while TalkTalk have publicly stated that any use of Phorm's DPI would be on an "opt-in" (making it financially unsustainable).