Although the customer tracking advertising platform Phorm received a blow this week when it was publicly snubbed by Orange, it can take solace that Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse have assures Sam Knows they are keen to carry on evaluating the technology.
The advertising platform is no stranger to controversy. BT began a trial at the
After months of hype, public demonstrations, threatened legal action, a government review and recurring BT promises of a service “in the next few weeks”; Phorm finally launches on BT today under the Webwise brand name.
The controversial technology tracks web surfing histories for ISP customers (who have opted-in) and so can serve more relevant advertising which
The British government has confirmed to the European Commission that the controversial ad-serving business, Phorm, is legal. In a move that will come as little surprise considering the service was given the go-ahead by the Information Commissioner this Spring, the government outlined that, so long as it remained an opt-in service, it would be legal.
The
NebuAd, one of two arch exponents of tracking user behaviour - via their ISP - to deliver more targeted adverts, has suffered a major blow with the departure of its CEO, Bob Dykes.
Using technology similar to Phorm, which is due to be trialled with BT “over the coming weeks”, NebuAd tracks user viewing habits so
BT is still due to press ahead with its ‘technical trial’ of Phorm, despite a letter from the European Commission to the government asking for reassurance, before the end of the month, that the system does not contravene EU data laws.
Despite the caution in Brussels, the broadband provider will “soon” be inviting 10,000 of its
BT reiterated its intention to roll out behavioural targeting technology from Phorm at its AGM this week as protesters outside the event admitted they were disappointed with the turn out of privacy campaigners.
However, there are three developments which will mean the furore over Phorm will not go away any time soon.
Mid week, and coinciding with
Ahead of tomorrow’s crunch BT AGM where online privacy campaigners are vowing to protest and report the company to the police for running tests on a small group of users’ accounts without permission, the CEO of behavioural advertising technology company, Phorm, has been defending its technology.
Kent Ertugru believes the company has been unduly targeted by
After its prime billing as the day NebuAd, Microsoft and Google would get a severe grilling from the US Senate, this week’s two hour hearing on online privacy proved a rather damp squib.
In stark contrast to the UK where the information Commissioner has told behavioural advertising technology company, Phorm, its network can only operate if