Britain in trouble over Phorm …

Tue,03 Nov 2009 07:14 GMT -4:00 http://www.p2pnet.net/story/30563

- Britain is in legal trouble with the European Commission over advertising privacy pirate Phorm.

Again.

The EC is accusing the UK government of failing to protect citizens’ privacy, says the BBC, going on »»»

It (the EC) said the government should have done more to guarantee online privacy when trials of a controversial ad-serving system were carried out in 2006.

The Commission said it had now started the second phase of legal action over the trials.

If the UK fails to answer the criticism satisfactorily, it faces being taken to the European court.

The EC initiated its legal fight with Britain over online data pirate Phorm following complaints to the EC over how the behavioural advertising ’service’ was tested on the BT broadband network – unbeknownst to users.

UK authorities said they were  “happy Phorm conformed to European data laws”, said another BBC story, but, “the commission has said Phorm ‘intercepted’ user data without clear consent and the UK need to look again at its online privacy laws.”

Technology used by Phorm is called DPI Deep Packet Inspection, aka Deep Privacy Invasion, “and its use as a means of mining private and personal online data now comprises a major threat around the world,”  said in March.

Now, EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding is demanding Britain changes its laws to “ensure that British citizens fully benefit from the safeguards set out in EU law concerning confidentiality of electronic communications,” saysthe BBC, adding:

“The Commission has sent a letter containing its opinion to the UK which now has two months to respond. If the Commission is unsatisfied with the response it could take the case to an EU court and perhaps force a change in UK law.

“In response a Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We are firmly committed to protecting users’ privacy and data. We are considering the Commission’s letter and will respond in due course’.”

Stay tuned.

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

BBC – Brussels criticises UK on privacy, November 2, 2009

initiated its legal fight – EC goes after Britain over Phorm DPI, April 14, 2009

BBC – EC starts legal action over Phorm, April 14, 2009

– Phorm pharce: UK media ’suppressed’ survey, March 7, 2009




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