header-logo header-logo

Tracking on trial

07 May 2009 / Donald Cran
Issue: 7368 / Categories: Features , Data protection
printer mail-detail

Donald Cran reviews recent privacy developments arising out of ISPs' use of Phorm

The European Commission (EC) has begun infringement proceedings against the UK for failure to implement properly the EU Directive on protection of personal data. The action follows complaints that UK internet service providers had trialled behavioural advertising technology developed by Phorm, Inc. without users' knowledge or consent.

Phorm technology analyses site visits by internet users to determine their interests, and then delivers targeted advertising to those users when they visit certain websites.

Such advertising may benefit both vendors and customers by better matching the former's products with the latter's needs. However, its use in the UK must comply with:

      
      ●     The Data Protection Act 1998, implementing the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC; and

      
      ●     The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2426), implementing the EU Privacy and Electronic Communication Directive 2002/58/EC on processing of personal data and protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector.

Monitoring or interception

Monitoring or interception of communications in the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve reports on Haynes v Thomson, the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling in a discrimination claim, in this week's NLJ
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll