Turns Out BT's Phorm Tracking Tests Were More Extensive Than Previously Reported
from the transparency? dept
Last month, we noted that BT had secretly tested Phorm's tracking system without telling customers in the summer of 2007. This gave users no way to opt-out as they had no idea their surfing was being tracked. However, now it's being reported that BT's tests were even more extensive than originally reported, and the two companies secretly tracked the internet usage of 18,000 customers back in 2006, before Phorm was even called Phorm. That's back when Phorm was known as 121 Media and considered by many to be in the sneaky adware business. In fact, the BT internal report on the test noted that: "121Media [Phorm] will take action (both technical and public relations) to avoid any perception that their system is a virus, malware or spyware and to show that in effect it is a positive web development." Perhaps that explains Phorm's recent charm offensive. It's part of it's deal with BT.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: clickstream treacking, isps, uk
Companies: bt, phorm
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
In the words of Ace Venture
Not too much.
Much too much."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Seriously, I hope someone is talking to the equivalent of the AG in the UK about this. I don't know how their courts are run other than they wear silly wigs.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
BT Bull
YEAH! ok Einstein.
[ link to this | view in thread ]