Is this BT, Virgin and Carphone Warehouse scheme acceptable?

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Mon, 2008-03-03 14:35

I don't know about you but, if the report below is accurate this doesn't sound like acceptable behaviour by an ISP.

Basically the trio are selling their customers' web browsing history to a third party so the third party can deliver targeted ads to the customer.

This sounds like:

a) an assault on privacy
b) a green light for more spam.

What do you think?

http://www.badphorm.co.uk/page.php?2

Mon, 2008-03-03 15:36

poetjude

I used to work in online advertising and it is common practice to deliver ads on websites according to user behaviour. This is a step further but not a big one. So long as my personal details (email etc.) are not passed on I am not bothered by this. This is not a green light for spam, you won't even notice the difference because it just means the banner ads you see are more closely based on your online activity - Talktalk, BT etc. have said that users will only be identified by an assigned number and no personal info will be revealed. I also quite like the idea of my mobile talking via bluetooth to the video ads on the escalators at tubes to show me adverts I may be interested in! j

Mon, 2008-03-03 16:03

brooosh

I have to disagree with you Jude. I think this is quite a big step further, and is open to abuse by advertisers. Another interesting article on this can be found here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/25/phorm_isp_advertising/ If anyone is concerned about this, they can make their feelings known to the Information Commissioner's Office which can be found here: https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx The company involved in this, by the way, is called PHORM.

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