Mike Hall MP

Labour Party | Weaver Vale

Mike Hall MP speaks out against “Phorm".

I have been contacted by constituents who are very concerned about the practice of internet service providers accessing data from a person’s internet connection by “listening in” to conversations and categorising them. For example, those looking for financial products or looking for wedding products who as a result have been sent advertising material targeting the categories relating to them.

I am advised that BT Talk Talk and Virgin internet Service Providers have engaged in “Phorm”. BT has tried to justify this practice by saying it protects against fake “phishing” websites. However this merely replicates the protection provided by their web browser.

My constituents make the valid point that companies using “Phorm” are illegally intercepting internet communication to store the information and use that information for commercial purposes.

This is not acceptable. I have written to the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise asking him to look into this and let me know if internet service providers who use “Phorm” are breaking the law and, if so, what actions are being taken against them. If they are not breaking the law I have asked the Secretary of State if the Government have any plans to bring in legislation to make this practice illegal.