Rights Groups Speak Out Against Phorm, UK Comm. Database

MJackson writes "The Open Rights Group (ORG) has issued a public letter to the Chief Privacy Officers (or the nearest equivalent) for seven of the world's largest website giants (including Microsoft and Google), asking them to boycott Phorm. The controversial Phorm system works with broadband ISPs to monitor what websites you visit for use in targeted advertising campaigns. Meanwhile, the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust has issued a new report slamming the UK government's plans for a Communications Database. This would be designed to intercept and log every UK ISP user's e-mail headers, website accesses and telephone history. The report warns that the public are often, 'neither served nor protected by the increasingly complex and intrusive holdings of personal information invading every aspect of our lives.'"

Comments

this won't win me many friends....

[Shakrai]

This isn't popular to point out but you set the stage for this when you let your Government disarm the population "for your protection". And no, I'm not implying that guns keep the Government in line. I'm implying that by acquiescing to the surrender of a right you held for hundreds of years you set the stage for the Government to curtail your other rights. If the populace didn't squeal when we took away the guns why should we assume they'll squeal when we take away the privacy? It's for their protection after all.

If you don't see the connection between the two then shame on you.