BT, Porn & Phorm
For those that do not know about Webwise and Phorm a brief background with links to more information is available at the bottom of this article.
This last week, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) added a Wikipedia page to it's list of blocked sites. The page in question contained the cover image from the album Virgin Killer by the Scorpions, the image shows a picture of a young naked girl on the cover. While I have no issue with the blocking of said images or the pages that contain them, it has pointed out something rather obvious:
BT already have the technology in place to protect us from phishing sites, without Webwise, or Phorm.
Why is it important to spread the word about this? Take a look at the screen grab below of what the BT site says about Webwise. The original page can be found here, but it is hosted by BT and could change at any moment.
BT Webwise information page as at 12th December 2008.
When marketting a product, most will advertise the products main features first. Taking that assumption, and the assumption that BT want the general public to take:
BT Webwise increases your protection against online fraud and makes ads that appear on participating websites more relevant to your interests.
Now if we take into account that BT already have the technology in place to protect us against online fraud, ignoring the fact that pretty much all web browsers attempt to do this anyway, that line now reads:
BT Webwise makes ads that appear on participating websites more relevant to your interests.
Good, now we're getting somewhere, like the truth as to what Webwise is (which we all really know). Webwise fits the profile of a Trojan Horse, granted it's not an application that can be downloaded, or a gigantuan wooden horse, but it follows the same principles. It pretends to be something it's not. Webwise is not here to protect you, if it was, they'd be protecting you already with the filtering equipment that is in place as you read this. Webwise is really all about making more money for BT.
Now, lets add what BT don't want you to know:
BT Webwise makes ads that appear on participating websites more relevant to your interests by spying on everything you do online, and sending that information to a company associated with spyware.
Thats more like it, but it doesn't explain why they're doing it.
BT Webwise makes ads that appear on participating websites more relevant to your interests by spying on everything you do online, and sending that information to a company associated with spyware, who will then provide targetted adverts based on that data, and give us (BT) a slice of the profits.
And so you have it, the Webwise system advertised for what it is: spyware. We should praise the IWF and Wikipedia for highlighting BT's already existing filtering technology. This is important because it is now in the public's eye that BT can block access to certain pages, and now is the time to point out to those, that this filtering could as easily be used to block phishing sites as it can to block child pornography.
This is clear evidence that BT can, but are not willing to protect us online, without the selfish motivation of making a bit on the side by associating with companies like Phorm. Orange pulled out of using Phorm due to concerns over their user's privacy.
This doesn't even touch on the claims that by publishing content online, you're giving any and everyone any rights to use that content in any which way they please unless you contact any and everyone in advance to say you don't give permission. That BT are profiting from the work of webmasters the world over and are essentially selling your personal information to Phorm. BT are (or will be) robbing webmasters and users alike of their "information" to make a profit.
I'll leave it there, or this will turn into a rant. Below follows a brief background on Webwise and Phorm for those who don't know, and some links where you can find more information.
A brief background on Webwise and Phorm
Webwise is an initiative by BT and Phorm that provides targetted advertising by intercepting you're every unencrypted move on the Internet. Every unencrypted page you view, e-mail you send (using webmail systems), forum/Facebook post you make is looked at by the Webwise system, and subsequently Phorm. This information is then used to create a profile on you, and what you are and are not interested in.
Websites that advertise through Phorm, will then be able to give you targetted adverts. For example, if you sent a message to your friend on Facebook saying "I'm getting a PS3 for x-mas, woohoo", then Webwise will link you with the PS3, and on participating sites, you will be shown adverts for say Playstation 3 games and accessories.
While this doesn't sound all that bad, it is the interception of traffic that is the issue here. User's traffic, regardless of whether they opt-in or out of Webwise, will still reach Phorm's systems. Phorm were previously 121Media.
Related Information:
