VM (Virgin Media) is thinking of allowing this...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/29/phorm_broadband_isp_targets/Does it basically mean that any website I visit will be transmitted to Phorm so they can shove advertising down my throat?
Mmm,
Will this lead to cheaper monthly connection fees too?
I guess "no"!
In other words, the Ad companies wil be pushing 'targetted' advertisements in your face and you will be paying for the privledge
Word it how they want. As soon as a company passes any of your data to a 3rd party they are in breach of the data protection act in the UK.
Saying it'll be anonymised is a null point because it's bloomin obvious the 3rd party won't need your name and address, but will need your IP and browsing history. Saying they don't need it or some of it is utter crap. How can you target ad's to a specific user if you have no data to select the best ads? - They'll have to have your IP address and some browsing history. If it's all anonymised then how do they know where to send the ads?
Plus glossing it by saying it'll also help protect the user by protecting against online fraud in real time. Oh please, don't try and make out like you're doing me the favours!
It is especially illegal at least it looks so.
Without prior grant from you, you are in the position of taking legal steps for enforced advertisement.
The funny point is in different countries, ISPs are not allowed to store network history for more than 7 days. I don't think they conform that as well ...
Or are UK privacy protection laws that useless so they can do anything they want?
No worries for me, I am with Plusnet who have said if they do adopt Phorm, there will be an opt-in / out option. I think that is a fair proposal, although the opt-out is the only option they will need!