Police quiz BT on secret Phorm trials

For more info...

For more information on the CoL situation, read the emails and listen to the phonecalls here:

https://nodpi.org/

Alexander Hanff

Oh fucking FINALLY!

I was wondering when the hell PC Plod would pay BT a visit.

Its only about the biggest case of wiretapping and spyware of all damn time!

We use this thing for shopping, banking and other stuff except horse porn you know!

RIP(A) Phorm

So long parasites

:)

Cop 'em some freebies

Advice to Phorm, follow the methods of the Friends of Hubbard: Buy the cops some cinema tickets ... and some popcorn too, why not?

Well well

I was cynical anything would be done about this, yet outraged that it ever happened. I suspect the Police were given a kick up the bottie after the EU wrote to the government - they had to be seen to make some kind of effort. I suspect the govt's response to the EU will now be "The Fuzz are looking into it, we'll get back to you".

Bear in mind the caveats about whether it's "in the public interest" to prosecute, etc etc.

I can assure them it's bloody well in MY interest!

"proportionate and in the public interest"

Who's making that decision then?

I know which way I think it should go, but then I also think it's time Tony Bliar was called to account. Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime, it starts and stops with YOU Tony.

Wouldn't suprise me if

a senior police figure (or maybe just retired/pushed) gets on the board of BT or Phorm.

Keeps the 'old boy' network alive don't know you know (although BT are probably monitoring that network as well).

Mines with one with hi-viz stripes on it

Spin

"it took legal advice"

But it (BT) won't say from whom, so it's worthless. Where's Judge John Deed when you need him..?

@AC and Horse Porn

Horse porn. Made me chuckle. I had a fleeting idea that I was more into Ponies, then I thought oh oh ... horse peedo alert!!

I reckon Phorm will need to change their name. They've now got a bad reputation already. (I won't comment on BT)

Paris... because I wouldn't mind going there. Do you think she'll do French?

DS Barry Murray

Needs to develop a better attitude, and pull his finger out on this one or there will be a new petition lodged with Downing street...

17,000 signatures and counting... Dont forget to sign!!

Wiretapping your home to get you to buy more stuff!

lock em up and throw away the key, they really need the book thrown at them , a precedent needs to be set to prevent those trusted with the responsibility of carrying our data from abusing both our trust and our privacy.

Lets hope the law stamps down hard on them.

I live in hope but...

...I can't help but feel those scumbags at BT will get away with this. They'll fob knacker off with some technical BS and weasel their way out of it. There is always a glimmer of hope though.

What about the other ISPs?

Please Mr Pig, save a few cans of Whoop Ass for Virgin...

YAY!!!!!

Finally, something at least including the fuzz and Phorm in the same sentence.

My hope is still with the EU, I expect Police to be as good at prosecuting BT as a gang of hoodies.

@Clive Galway

..shorting with you, sir

Phorm used to be 121media

"I think it is all going to come crashing down around Phorm."

Sadly they'll just fire the directors, rehire them and change branding again. Then you've got a whole new company that's not liable to the previous mistakes and so continue being arseholes.

"in the public interest"

"There's no indication as to whether formal proceedings will be brought. Considerations will include whether charges would be proportionate and in the public interest."

That statement doesn't have any bearing on public concern over the matter - it means if a prosecution is brought against BT what are the chances of winning and making them pay for the proceedings in damages as opposed to the tax payer footing the bill.

It's probably already dead in the ground but if charges are brought involving breaches of any privacy laws - it's all over for BT and Phorm, regardless of whether they are fined or imprisoned, neither they, nor any UK ISP will ever again contemplate using Deep Packet Inspection technologies to profile their customers in this way.

Then justice has been seen to be done and a multi-million pound corporation has been shown that even they are not above the law.

@ Oh fucking FINALLY!

Shurely shome mishtake:

Oh Phucking FINALLY! :-)

John Deed?

Never mind Judge John Deed. Were is Judge Dredd when we need him?

Paris 'cos she knows all about privacy

Watching with baited breath...

hoping and praying BT Directors face jail for this.

Its in my interest. I don't want my web sites scammed, I don't want my kids profiled.

And I don't want reckless criminal bandits at the helm of trusted blue chip companies like BT.

Its not in the national interest to have UK businesses scammed, and UK citizens subject to mass surveillance.

Don't get excited

All the plod are doing is going through the motions and paying lip service.

As usual sweet FA will come of it.

Since everyone else has overlooked it

don't forget the Phuzz!

It will be a disgrace if a prosecution does not follow, but if BT are fined it's their customers who will actually pay the fine.

Remember the cash for honours - swept under the carpet although it was as plain as a pikestaff to us mere mortals.

Who's taking bets?

In depth, analysis.

Spread it around. It's a shame to waste it on politics, British politics at that.

"Sadly they'll just fire the directors, rehire them and change branding again. Then you've got a whole new company that's not liable to the previous mistakes and so continue being arseholes."

There some incisive minds reading this rubbish, why don't you all come over to sci.geo.earthquakes and blow all those stupid bastards away with this clarity of mind?

The public interest

Lies in discouraging other scum from trying the same trick.

That's the reason the police prosecute a lot of crooks, I'd have thought, so no excuse for not being thorough in this case. Throw the book at BT, I say.

Oh do stop

Blaming Tony Blair for his Mad-Cow mother's creation

Nice cup of tea?

I imagine the interview was less rigorous than most of us would wish for; more a nice cosy chat about the impertinence of the public disagreeing with the decisions of business.

I'll start taking the official interest seriously when I see some greasy wanker from BT/phorm defending the indefensible in court.

Nothing less than some phucker getting banged up will do.

Paris, 'cos she's au fait with invaded privacy and getting banged up.

Sorry but...

Think you’ll find any police investigation into Bt’s wrong doings is to satisfy EU requirements only and as a result the whole thing will be laid to rest with the forthcoming secret Viviane Reding reply... Bt will then begin it’s trials and deploy this dpi system.

It’s ‘opt in’ and because of that Bt will have to blackmail it’s users into doing so by offering them substantial reductions and hiked up charges for those who refuse.

Well you asked for it BT

Like many I hope this is another nail in the coffin for that oft used and highly dubious phrase:

"enhancing the user experience"

now I for one run a mile when I see that 'cause it usually means the opposite and more likely means enhancing the profits of the provider at the users expense...

"Death to marketing bullshit!", I say.

Good on ya' Reg for keeping us informed on this.

Storm In a Tea Cup

I've said it before and I'll say it again - this whole issue is a S T O R M I N A T E A C U P .

"Officers have been examining the dossier of evidence handed to Wood Street police station by campaigners following the 16 June protest against BT's planned full deployment of Phorm's technology. It included the internal documents detailing the 2006 trial, which we reported here."

Wake up and smell the coffee people. The Police are only doing what they are obliged to do.

N O T H I N G W I L L E V E R C O M E O F T H I S .

Goot love the bloodthirsty mob

"Its black and white. The law is not gray. If a crime has been committed. Some one should be prosecuted."

And other sentiments like "string 'em up" and "throw away the key".

First, they are innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law. Isn't this something people in this forum like to shout about when it suits them? You can't have it both ways.

Secondly, if they are proven guilty, what would be a suitable punishment? As a libertarian I find their intruding on people's privacy disgusting, but it's hardly something to lock (or "string") them up for, is it?

It's hardly on the same scale as murder, rape, assault, robbery, arson or other crimes. Not all crimes are equally serious and don't all deserve equal punishment.

Keep a sense of proportion, please.

-- Jon

@ John Edwards

bugger, that's my line.