The Crown Prosecution service (CPS) are once again investigating whether they have a case to go to court over BT’s trials of Phorm back in 2006. The Police initially looked in to BT’s use of Phorm’s behavioural targeting technology, back in September 2008 before deciding that no criminal offence had been committed. The trials took […]
The Crown Prosecution service (CPS) are once again investigating whether they have a case to go to court over BT’s trials of Phorm back in 2006. The Police initially looked in to BT’s use of Phorm’s behavioural targeting technology, back in September 2008 before deciding that no criminal offence had been committed. The trials took place in Autumn 2006.
However, according to IT news site, The Register, the CPS have once again called in the City of London Police. The CPS have received technical and expert evidence on the case and have now brought the City of London Police back in assist in ongoing enquiries.
18/05/2010
It is suspected that BT and Phorm may have committed offences under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act which restricts wiretapping and interception of communications.
Phorm was designed to serve relevant adverts to customers based on their browser history. However, it came to light broadband subscribers had been used to trial this service without consent, prompting complains from customers and privacy campaigners.
Last month it was even suggested the UK government could be fined by the European Commission for its lack of intervention on trials which took place between 2006 and 2007.
The Register
