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ISP Traffic Spying

ddleigh
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

ISP Traffic Spying

Hi,
I've just read an article describing a worrying trend that more and more ISPs are selling the website browsing behaviour of their customers to advertising companies:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/opinion/05sat4.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/03/AR2008040304052.html?nav=rss_technol...
I would just like to ask whether either Metronet or Pipex are engaging in this activity or whether they intend to at any time in the future?
Debbie
28 REPLIES 28
ChemicalBrother
Grafter
Posts: 1,887
Thanks: 5
Registered: ‎05-04-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

errrm... Debbie.

Pipex isn't anything to do with PlusNet at all - you might want to ask Tiscali that one. Cheesy
You might also want to take a look at this thread which discusses Phorm, a targetted advertising (sic) company who is firmly in bed with BT Broadband, Talk Talk and Virgin Media.
Hope this helps,
Roger
Forum Plod.
EDIT: And to answer your question for you - PlusNet have stated categorically that they are not and probably will not be using targetting advertising now or in the future.
nadger
Rising Star
Posts: 4,498
Thanks: 46
Registered: ‎13-04-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

Quote from: rogerloxton
Pipex isn't anything to do with PlusNet at all - you might want to ask Tiscali that one. Cheesy
Make it before 5th May as that's when provisional bids for Tiscali are due Wink
jelv
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 26,785
Thanks: 971
Fixes: 10
Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

You might want to sign this petition: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ispphorm/
Quote
We petition the Prime Minister to investigate the Phorm technology and if found to breach UK or European privacy laws then ban all ISP's from adopting it's use. Additionally the privacy laws should be reviewed to cover any future technologies such as Phorm
The UK's three largest ISP's, Virgin Media, BT and TalkTalk are all in talks with a view to introducing the Phorm technology. This would result in the browsing habits of the majority of the UK population being sold to a third party for advertising purposes. The opt out system for this technology is vague and unproven, even when opting out your every move on the Internet might be recorded. Surely this must be a breach of privacy laws, if not then the privacy laws need to be changed to cover such invasive technology.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
   Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!)   
Broadband: Andrews & Arnold Home::1 (FTTC 80/20)
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ddleigh
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

Hi rogerloxton,
Oops, yes, I meant Plusnet. Sorry.
Hi jelv,
That petition seems a good thing.  I hope it works.
Debbie
oliverb
Grafter
Posts: 606
Registered: ‎02-08-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

I'd like to see something in Plusnet's terms and conditions explicitly ruling out this form of interception. Basically I want to see a clause stating what Plusnet will use Deep Packet Inspection and other forms of usage tracking for (currently for load management) and what Plusnet will not do (make the data stream accessable by third parties).
Heloman
Grafter
Posts: 519
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

And I'd like to see peace on earth!
Whilst agreeing with your sentiments, I can't see any company ruling out in their T's & C's a source of income that has not  been shown to be illegal. It would not make business sense to do so.
Ethically I hope PN stick to their present position, but a lot will depend upon the outcome of the current debate...
cp:quote
geewizz
Grafter
Posts: 1,125
Registered: ‎01-08-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

Quote from: Heloman

And I'd like to see peace on earth!

Cheesy My sentiments too!
I have to say that it would be a fairly naive step to take to rule out any future use of developing technologies just to satisfy the minority of users who are paranoid that they will get caught looking up porn. We all do it so there's nothing to worry about.
shutter
Community Veteran
Posts: 22,206
Thanks: 3,769
Fixes: 65
Registered: ‎06-11-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

How do you qualify that last sentence?
Did you run a survey? how many people did you ask? You could not have asked all .....
You certainly did not ask me,
therefore your statement  " we all do it" is totally incorrect, and as such is an insult to those who do not.
geewizz
Grafter
Posts: 1,125
Registered: ‎01-08-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

My lord, I fear he protesteth too much.  Wink
jmd
Grafter
Posts: 2,933
Thanks: 4
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

That is an arrogant rude reply to someone who like me objects to you tarring us with the same dirty and  foul habits that you obviously have! Angry
shutter
Community Veteran
Posts: 22,206
Thanks: 3,769
Fixes: 65
Registered: ‎06-11-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

Quote from: geewizz
My lord, I fear he protesteth too much.  Wink

Would you care to elucidate on that , and also on my previous post? Angry
joeybutterface
Grafter
Posts: 27
Registered: ‎31-03-2008

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

It'll be fun when there's a data breach and the browsing habits of the entire country are uploaded to P2P sites for the world to see.
geewizz
Grafter
Posts: 1,125
Registered: ‎01-08-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

@ shutter
Not really. Some people can read and digest a self deprecating joke, others don't have the same appreciation of subtlety.
shutter
Community Veteran
Posts: 22,206
Thanks: 3,769
Fixes: 65
Registered: ‎06-11-2007

Re: ISP Traffic Spying

Both your posts were neither "funny"  nor "subtle".
And your explanation only emphasizes it.