U.K. Ad Agency Gets Nasty Over Press Release

[Andy Chalk]

U.K. Ad Agency Gets Nasty Over Press Release

Various news outlets in the U.K. have pulled stories saying that internet users don't like their browsing habits spied upon following legal threats by Phorm [http://www.phorm.com/], the company doing the spying.

Phorm, a "digital technology company" involved with both online security and advertising, has "repeatedly cited" but never actually published its own market research showing that people want a "more relevant internet experience," which it offers by way of its Webwise [http://webwise.phorm.com/] software. Available freely to ISPs, Webwise purports to offer warnings to customers about fraudulent "phishing" sites they may visit, but also monitors browsing activity in order to match online advertising with each user's particular interest.

Phorm claims that Webwise works completely anonymously but a survey taken by the consumer group Virgin Media [http://www.which.co.uk/] to collaborate with Phorm in using the software. BT has already conducted three trials of the program, the first two of which were done in secret, without customer consent.

But when Which? issued a press release detailing its findings, Phorm responded with legal threats. The agency says its libel lawyers are now working with Which? to "correct" the press release, which has resulted in the withdrawal of the release and the removal or editing of stories based on the data from sites including The Press Association, Channel 4 News, the Telegraph and the Daily Mail. A spokesman for Phorm said the threat of legal action stemmed from inaccuracies in the press release, including that it "repeatedly stated the Webwise system collects and sells on data, which is misleading."

Manipulating phraseology to get a desired answer is a touch on the greasy side, but rolling out the lawyers to prevent others doing the same thing is a whole different ballgame. Is there a legitimate complaint here or is this just a litigational broadside against the press? It's hard to say at this point but on the surface at least, the whole thing looks just a wee bit dodgy.

Source: The Register [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/27/phorm_which/]


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[Dogstile]

if they're going to look at what we watch, i want to know about it, otherwise they're invading my privacy

screw you webwise!

(also, i may have misunderstood it, ignore me if i have)

 

[Skrapt]

Phorm has been increasingly secretive about their software, which is really starting to get on my nerves. The fact that a private company can get their software learning of peoples browsing habits without their ISP's ever having to inform them is unnerving. People have suggested an opt-out program for the software when signing with ISP's, what I'd love to know is how much business they'd get with an opt-in program 'would you like to have your browsing habits collated and stored so we can better understand your browsing habits and provide you with advertising?' - the fact that no one would tick that box is reason enough to never have software like this touch an ISP's servers. And tbh all the news companies being censored to protect Phorm should now post stories about how they have been treated. Which? isn't a fantastic publication, but generally they get their facts right and given the choice between the 2 I think I'd know which one was skewing the facts to protect themselves.

Phorm, everyone who knows about your software and isn't on your payroll hates your software - now please go stfu and pack up your business.

 

[Arbre]

Just stay away as far as you can from that kind of BS software, that's all there is to say.

Remember, your privacy is redeemable in fucking gold.

Having access to it is not an opt-out option.

 

[Filtertip]

i dont want someone looking at my internet use to aim adverts at me id rather the sites i go onto show me adverts of somthing that is related to the content of the web site.

These guys need a slap

 

[HandyMan]

JOin 20,000 people and sign the Downing Street Petition against Phorm (only a few days left before it closes after 1 year) - sign now: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/

Let's just be very clear on this... I'm a newbie here and registered because I do not like what Phorm does. Not even one little bit. It is sooo much worse than ANY existing behavioural advertising system tracking you. Even if you don't like how Google works, at least you DO have a REAL choice there.

On Phorm and Webwise, according to ALL that we have been told to date, even if you were a BT customer and you OPT OUT, your data still goes through their system. It still goes through. How much of an option OUT is that?? And we all know how clearly they will explain when offering you the choice of Opt Out. It will be a big "Count me in" button and a little link "No thanks" (as per the trial in 2008)

Don't be kidded into thinking that you can evade this stuff. If Phorm gets there, if the ISPs allow this to be installed, if our UK Gov and Euro Commission do not put a stop to it, you cannot evade it. Sure you can opt out. Sure you can install Firefox and put add ins galore on there, but the bottom line is, even if you use add ins, your data (ALL of it) still goes through the BT Webwise / Phorm system.

Phorm is Spyware on the Network. And it has to be stopped. Because it is wrong. And it should be illegal (and many experts think it is) and they should be prosecuted for the trials.

It's no different than letters being opened, read, your interests noted and different junk mail being sent to your home. Out of order. Wrong. Pure and simple.

Follow the background, the history since 2006 to today via these great resources:

Facebook - "Save UK internet privacy" or "Bad Phorm" groups for links to news and details during 2006-2009

www.NoDPI.org

www.inphormationdesk.org

www.dephormation.org.uk

Together we CAN stop this ex-Adware company getting the ultimate position of their software between us and the net.

Sign the Downing Street Petition (only a few days leftbefore it closes after 1 year) 20000 people have signed it so far - if you agree with them, sign now: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/

 

[Andy Chalk]

I like to think that nonsense like this couldn't happen over here, what with the famed American paranoia over privacy (and the famed Canadian willingness to just roll along with whatever Americans do) but I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with something similar within the next decade. Privacy concerns are increasingly falling by the wayside, driven by an ugly mix of ignorance, indifference and hunger for cheap celebrity, so we can't be too surprised when companies like this step step up and try to exploit the changing situation. Hopefully our jaws haven't gone so slack that we're unwilling to even try to do something about it.

 

[Sparrow]

Christ. This sounds like another Metal Gear plot.

 

[Omnidum]

""repeatedly stated the Webwise system collects and sells on data, which is misleading.""
Misleading? Not "utter bollocks?" or whatever you guys would say?
That's not suspicious at all.

"It's misleading, we don't sell them, we give away the information freely! Especially Random has taken an interest in that."

That aside, shouldn't it say to the customers that it will be going to monitor their trek through the internet?

 

[AndyFromMonday]

So basicly they can see whatever I'm doing on my browser. Fuck that. Really, it's basicly a damn keylogger.

 

[Specter_]

""repeatedly stated the Webwise system collects and sells on data, which is misleading.""
Misleading? Not "utter bollocks?" or whatever you guys would say?
That's not suspicious at all.

"It's misleading, we don't sell them, we give away the information freely! Especially Random has taken an interest in that."

That aside, shouldn't it say to the customers that it will be going to monitor their trek through the internet?

What? Tell their customers the truth?
MADNESS!

Madness? This is THE ESCAPIST! *kicks Max into a bottomless pit*

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Solution: destroy the company

They have been Infected by Spyware-itis. They must be purged. So says Microsoft, who is my master......

 

[Specter_]

""repeatedly stated the Webwise system collects and sells on data, which is misleading.""
Misleading? Not "utter bollocks?" or whatever you guys would say?
That's not suspicious at all.

"It's misleading, we don't sell them, we give away the information freely! Especially Random has taken an interest in that."

That aside, shouldn't it say to the customers that it will be going to monitor their trek through the internet?

What? Tell their customers the truth?
MADNESS!

Madness? This is THE ESCAPIST! *kicks Max into a bottomless pit*

*Falls forever* NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo...

*brushes off dust* That'll show him...

 

[Specter_]

""repeatedly stated the Webwise system collects and sells on data, which is misleading.""
Misleading? Not "utter bollocks?" or whatever you guys would say?
That's not suspicious at all.

"It's misleading, we don't sell them, we give away the information freely! Especially Random has taken an interest in that."

That aside, shouldn't it say to the customers that it will be going to monitor their trek through the internet?

What? Tell their customers the truth?
MADNESS!

Madness? This is THE ESCAPIST! *kicks Max into a bottomless pit*

*Falls forever* NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo...

*brushes off dust* That'll show him...

*Wonders who built/dug the pit and how it manages to be endless if it doesn't lead to space or something*

Basically, if you dig a pit through the earths core and a bit further the other way up, you get a bottomless pit (if you shield it against the heat and everything) since gravity gets you stuck at the planets center of mass.