News Clips
| 16 Sep 08 – Dow Jones Newswires |
| UK Government Backs Targeted Ad Co Phorm In EU Privacy Case In a letter to the European Commission, the U.K. government has stated that as long as Phorm stays within certain guidelines, its technology is legal. It states, "After conducting its inquiries with Phorm the U.K. authorities consider that Phorm's products are capable of being operated in a lawful, appropriate and transparent fashion." The letter also defines the criteria that Phorm must maintain, including customer notice and agreement, anonymous profiling, and the ability for users to opt in or out at any time. |
| http://www.lloyds.com/CmsPhoenix/DowJonesArticle.aspx? id=404775 |
| 22 May 08 – The Washington Post |
| FTC Wants to Know What Big Brother Knows About You The Federal Trade Commission is now reviewing its guidelines for behavioural targeting in the United States. While there are potential privacy concerns, with advertisers building anonymous profiles of web users, there is also a strong desire for free access to web content, which is most often supported by advertising. By increasing the value of this advertising, behavioural targeting has the potential to further enrich the online landscape. |
| http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ article/2008/05/21/AR2008052102989.html |
| 30 Apr 08 – MediaPost Publications |
| Phorm to Anti-Spyware Companies: Give Us Fair Shake Phorm has reached out to security vendors, arguing that its cookies should be treated according to the same standards as other advertising cookies. Erik Howes, Director of Malware Research at Sunbelt Software has agreed, saying the company would treat Phorm cookies the same as others. This means that when Sunbelt users run a scan of their computer they will be informed of the presence of the Phorm cookie, and will have the option to remove. Sunbelt will not, however, be removing them automatically. |
| http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=81648 |
| 17Apr 08 – Associated Press |
| UK Advertising - Tech Fight Shows Complexity of Privacy Battle
When designing its new ISP-based advertising system, Phorm actively tried to address privacy concerns. The technology was even examined by privacy advocate Simon Davies who labeled it as "privacy friendly." However, despite these efforts, some controversy has developed around the technology in the UK. Marketers should take note, as they continue to try to improve advertising targeting online, that the public is watching and is growing more vocal. |
| http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/17042008/323/ uk-advertising-tech-fight-shows-complexity-privacy-battle.html |
| 10 Apr 08 – The New York Times |
| How Should I.S.P.s Tell You if They Want to Track Your Surfing?
As ISP-based advertising grows closer to becoming a reality, the logistics of notifying customers have come under greater scrutiny. Many advertising executives believe that if consumers are given unavoidable notice of the system and an easy way to opt out, then it should be acceptable. However, the definition of "unavoidable notice" is still under discussion. BT has stated that before beginning its trial with Phorm, its users will be presented with a web page that gives "a description of the service and has three buttons: Yes I want the service, No I don't want the service and I want more information." ISPs that have partnered with NebuAd have also notified their customers, but this can be "by e-mail, an insert in a billing statement or some other format." |
| http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/09/ how-should-isps-tell-you-if-they-want-to-track-your-surfing/ index.html?ref=technology |
| 9 Apr 08 – MarketingVOX |
| Phorm Comes Out Rosy on Ripa, Plans to Launch Opt-Out Switch
Phorm reached out to the UK's Leading Council and Home Office and another third-party in the face of accusations that its technology violates the privacy law known as Ripa. These groups have since deemed the technology to be legal under a reasonable interpretation of the law. The argument is that, although there may be minor technical violations of the law, a strict ruling against Phorm's technology would also render spam filters and many current web mail systems illegal. |
| http://www.marketingvox.com/phorm-comes-out- rosy-on-concerns-over-ripa-037929/ |
| 9 Apr 08 – The Times (London) |
| Privacy Watchdog OKs Controversial Web-Tracking Service Phorm
The Information Commissioner's Office has stated that Phorm's technology does not present a privacy threat. The ICO argued that although the technology tracks individuals' browsing patterns, it does not collect information that would allow that individual to be identified. These privacy protections are extended even further because users will have the opportunity to opt out of individual tracking. |
| http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/ article3714098.ece |
| 31 Mar 08 – IT Week |
| Enemies of privacy - Self-appointed defenders of privacy should lay
off Phorm and save their ire for the government As new technologies are developed, they occasionally attract criticism that they are infringing too much on individuals' privacy. Five years ago, RFID tracking was the target of this criticism, and today Phorm is on the receiving end. However, an objective look at Phorm's technology reveals that it does not contain personally identifiable information, and it "contrasts favourably with Google's approach, which 'stores browsing data and ties it to login IDs and IP addresses.'" |
| http://www.whatpc.co.uk/itweek/comment/ 2213127/enemies-privacy-3907973 |
| 6 Mar 08 – BBC News |
| Ad System 'Will Protect Privacy' Working under the consulting group 80/20 Thinking Ltd., privacy campaigners Simon Davies and Gus Hosein have issued a statement of support for "the effort that had been put into minimizing the collection of personal information" in Phorm's technology. The system does not store the IP address of a computer or search engine queries, and is designed to provide consumers with the choice to easily not participate in the service. Mr. Davies added that "Phorm does advance the whole sector of protecting personal information by two or three steps." |
| http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7280791.stm |
| Complete Phorm News |
