Posts by 3x2 133 publicly visible posts • joined 19 Sep 2007
Google "Oliver Martinez Kylie Minogue" about 355,000 results
What privacy is being referred to here?
More to the point ..
"The link in effect is a deliberate decision on the part of the defending organisation, contributing to the spread of illicit information, thus making him responsible as an editor of such information,"
I suspect this sort of behaviour is just the tip of the ice-berg. Right from the start we have been warned against putting this kind of power in the hands of local functionaries. They can't help themselves, it's like handing a child a loaded gun.
(bear in mind this is advice to schools!)
http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/schools/ripa/
<...>They can't change T&C without your consent. New T&C means new contract and THEY have voided the old one. They try to bluff but as soon as you point out you are aware of this, they instantly back down.<...>
And they are quite right. Consider the absolute bollocks that would be made of our economy if everyone could just change the terms of a contract whenever they felt like it. You signed contract A and without your consent contract B is just wishful thinking on the part of your ISP (in this case)
<...>Incidentally...... there's no point in trying to go for BT under RIPA as the power to undertake action rests with the DPP alone. No private actions are allowable without the DPP's permission.<...>
<...>The inactivity of the DPP in this matter is staggering...the precedent appalling<...>
And that is everything. Minimum 18000 counts of breaching RIPA and still no action. One could almost believe these clowns were more worried about their share portfolios when considering legal action. Lets face it - caught tomorrow wire-tapping an ex-girlfriend - two years. 18000 wire-taps?
Phorm's entire business plan depends on their system being opt-out (no, honest). It cannot work if we have a genuine option. Perhaps that's the reason for their recent rapid share price decline - even short traders have their limits.
I, the undersigned, have no problem allowing you, my ISP, to wire-tap all my activities on the net. I feel that the promise of of "a better, more relevant Internet experience" is worth you shafting me up the back passage and charging me for the experience.
Signed - ???
(from the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7331493.stm)
In response to Dr Clayton's report, a spokesperson for Phorm said: "Our technology complies with all the appropriate UK laws - and we've consulted a range of experts on this.
"The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) was drafted in the earliest days of the internet. It is not designed to criminalise legitimate business activities - online targeted advertising is an accepted part of the internet landscape today."
This seems to me to be the first admission by BTPhorm that there may be a problem. "Our systems are fine - the law is in error" - interesting defence.
The Problem BTPhorm have is that their current system proposals require an interception even to determine your opt in/out status and even if you are opted out the interception will continue. RIPA doesn't specify duration of interception or care what you do with the results. The interception itself is illegal.
The only way out of the RIPA issue is to make the system truly opt-in. Altering a users proxy (for example) to point to Phorm equipment whilst the rest of the traffic is directed as normal. This still leaves the issue of host site consent of course, communication being a two way process.
Quite un-believable though that HMG have still started no investigation into the
possibility of 18000 (at minimum) prior breaches of RIPA.
<...>No, it's not, it's a common myth amongst people who have not bothered to read up the actual science.<...>
Read : who read anything that contradicts MY "science"
<...>I try to point those who are intelligent enough to understand them<...>
Well how benevolent of you, it's good that you are looking out for those of us that just can't follow your "science".
You are exactly why we are "sceptics" - another arrogant, self-appointed priest of your religion.
<...>"A small number of customers on one internet exchange were randomly selected for the test and were completely anonymous. Absolutely no personally identifiable information was processed, stored or disclosed during this test. BT has no way of knowing - because the trial was completely anonymous - which customers were part of the test."<...>
Where exactly in RIPA does it say it's OK to wire-tap so long as you don't look at the results too closely? RIPA say's it is illegal to intercept any communication. What you did or didn't do with the results or that you didn't know who you wire-tapped is irrelevant.
Where are HMG in all this? There is more than enough evidence to at least investigate. I'm still searching RIPA for the safe harbour BT think they have and I still can't find it.
(RIPA)
1 Unlawful interception
(1) It shall be an offence for a person intentionally and without lawful authority to intercept, at any place in the United Kingdom, any communication in the course of its transmission by means of—
(a) a public postal service; or
(b) a public telecommunication system.
While it is good that some MP's think this is something to ask questions about it's hardly the rush to defend constituents that some of us had hoped for. You might have thought that a proposal to wire-tap millions of their voting constituents (so close to an election) might have generated a bit more interest in The House.
<...>The relationship between Internet Service Providers and their customers is based on trust.<...>
Based on what now? To me at least "opt-in" "opt-out" is irrelevant - I don't trust my ISP to honour my choice. They have clearly demonstrated what depths they will sink to for an additional revenue stream.
What I want to see from MP's is a closing of whatever loop-hole allowed Phorm and the ISP's to get this far.
<...>You must be new to the Phorm story. The BBC asked PI, and PI said Phorm was OK by them.<...>
Yes very new. Right I'll type slowly so you see the words ...
The initial BBC story, for the first day or so, did say that PI endorsed the Phorm system. Then the BBC did their checking (which they should have done first) and amended the story. Before they (BBC) amended their story, unlike you, I asked PI directly about Phorm and they cleared up the misunderstanding.
OK so far? Good. Now then re: http://calculating.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/privacy-international-idiots-endorse-phorm/
These dicks presumably went to the same school of journalism as the BBC because you see they re-printed the BBC article without checking their facts either. It happens a lot on the Internet and when you are a big AC you will begin to understand that and maybe think (or god forbid research) before you type.
- Hope that's all clear enough now
A quick mail to PI will get you a pretty clear statement about all of this. The fact that "journalists" (I'm looking at you - BBC) initially didn't bother to ask is hardly their (PI's) fault.
@Whinging Anonymous Coward - not anonymous for long eh? I think you miss the point that everyone else you mention is ... well ... optional
..that BT and others still think they can get away with it.
Once Phorm are in chapter 11 where they belong it seems like a good time for HMG to take a long look at competition in the ISP industry. One thing this whole sorry mess has highlighted (to me at least) is the lack of alternative suppliers once the big three are in bed together. Clearly the free market isn't operating in this area or I would have changed my ISP last week.
Michael Crichton has been calling for a change in the way we research such things for a long time. I think his view is increasing relevant now that the pork barrel has become a free for all that is likely to cost taxpayers Trillions worldwide. Policy based on interest groups and who shouts loudest is a very expensive game that taxpayers may well start to question very soon.
http://www.michaelcrichton.com/speech-senatetestimony.html
I imagine a lot of other companies are now looking at distancing themselves from Phorm. Just a shame the ISP's haven't. I am still not clear what the plans of my ISP (VM) are. As things stand it will cost me a couple of months of VM subscription (not just BB) just to move ISP's so I'm holding off until they make a statement.
It's way past time that the ISP's realised that this has gone beyond "targeted advertising". It is a total breakdown of any trust people may have had in their supplier. The light has been switched on and they have been found with a hand in the cookie jar.
What Phorm and the ISP's promise means nothing. Had the light had not been switched on they were willing to quietly wire-tap their own customers and worse pass it off as "Webwise - your safer internet experience".
It cannot have escaped the entire industry that, if "Webwise" goes ahead unchallenged they are one step from the holy grail of IP to Postal address mapping. Do you now trust your ISP not to take that last step?
What needs to happen once Phorm have gone to the wall is an overhaul of
the law relating to this area. You can bet that Phorm will not be the last company to approach the ISP's with another quick money scheme. Next time it needs to be illegal full stop.
Doh - you beat me to it.
You have to wonder what would have happened if all of this had never reached our ears until BT and their scumware buddy were ready. Secret testing on un-suspecting customers over - time to present it all in the warm glow of "Webwise" your safe surfing friend.
Phorm - take what's left of your investors money and run, IT'S OVER
<...>This is quite clearly the thin end of an extremely Orwellian wedge.<...>
I think we are well past the "thin end".
Getting schemes installed in the first place is the hard part. After that you just keep adding new uses to keep the pork flowing.
See ... You get your population wide DNA database up and running using murderers and sex offenders - everybody nods sagely, what a wise move. Then out of the woodwork comes a "new benefit"
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/17/kid_dna_print_fracas/
is why we don't want HMP UK. A country where "you just haven't been caught yet".
I don't think you can ignore Sci-Fi type predictions for the future of this technology quite so quickly. Once we have a national "all in" register don't tell me we won't be reading about one report after another claiming to have identified the "X" gene. The Child molester gene, violent offender correlations, whatever is this weeks flavour of un-desirable.
If you really can predict a childs future and still do nothing about it then there is something seriously wrong with your culture.
Using <insert preferred method here> to avoid the profiler I think misses the point. You shouldn't have to.
To me at least the issue here is that BT and others think it is OK to wire-tap your line.
Who they pass it to, why and how they plan do it is pretty irrelevant.
If this move goes ahead it will be partly because it has been surrounded by mirrors and smoke, mostly of our (the tech community) own making. There is a good chance that people will take up BT's offer of "a safer more relevant internet experience" because they long ago tuned out talk of cookies, TOR and layer 7 packet re-assembly.
<...>they've consulted literally hundreds of leading futurologists, technologists, and management experts.<...>
They didn't consult any "Fungineers"? What about entrails? they are just as relevant to the future as they always have been.
£200 a copy , Jesus - clear the bong smoke boys I'm in the wrong job.
Made me laugh years ago (78?) when the last of the old guard passed and the BBC wheeled out Edward Heath to comment. The news guy says "And do you think we will see a move to democracy become a priority now in China?" "No" say's EH, "The priority will remain feeding 1 billion+ people 3 meals a day".
The Chinese have their own priorities and their own way of dealing with things. I'm pretty sure that Western Democracy, especially post 9/11, has little to teach them about "freedom".
Is that what passes for journalism on the BBC now?
It's a cut and paste job from Phorm and BT website blurb. Well there you have it - Phorm say it's OK and the BBC agree. Nothing to see here move along.
Perhaps Phorm will eventually breach the BBC carbon footprint standards then we'll see some real journalism.
<...>More desperately, the Identity & Passport Service wants to "work closely with the private sector to develop practical uses for the card to encourage young people to enrol."<...>
Develop practical uses? Tending to indicate that it currently has no practical use as it stands other than getting the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit another inch closer to the Total Surveillance State(Tm) we are all queuing up for.
From the BBC story <...>it is hoped all these cameras can be used in a coordinated way - and fed into a purpose-built command centre - to provide a "soft-touch approach" to the police effort "rather than have a police officer on every corner".<...>
So just to clarify "rather than have a police officer on every corner" they want them in a command centre watching the collective output of 500,000 live video feeds?
And all of this will be left in place after the event - can anyone spell creepy surveillance state?
Waaaaaail ! Time to get up citizens..... indeed.
V for Vendetta anyone?
Something that hasn't been made clear to date is if this new strikes system will apply only to the music and film industry. Will this system be open to all rights holders? if so it could quickly degenerate into some IP based DMCA type takedown process without any legal requirements.
It is difficult to see how this protection should only apply to the music biz and exclude all the other "content producers" who have their work shared all the time.
Database. You really have to wonder about these people. They are still trying to push through ID against increasing opposition. Do they stop and re-evaluate? No - just fire up yet another master plan.
Politicians please note - just because something is technically possible doesn't mean you have to do it.
The Reg (or anyone else) have not made it clear yet how this will all work. As far as I can see at the moment the music industry will do the monitoring then having found the "offenders" will send details to their ISP who will then take action.
Easy so far but then we need a central register of net users for the ISP's to control. It would be the only way to prevent users switching and leaving their "records" behind. On top of that we need systems in place for maintaining those records, issuing warnings and even an appeals process for those instances where the information was in error. Will there be time limits where records are deleted or will they be lifelong?
I suppose my point here is that all of this is beginning to sound very expensive and no doubt those costs will be passed on to the consumer. As I don't use their product (music biz) why exactly am I being required to pay for them to police their own problems? Will I be able to get a cheaper connection If I don't "offend"?
I can see the problem the music industry has but in the end it is just that - their problem. Quite why we will all be expected to effectively pay an MP3 download tax when most of us don't download them is beyond me.
I think supporters of this project (and some of it's opponents) are missing the point. I don't really care what security measures are in place or how many benefits you can count on your fingers. I DO NOT WANT MY CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATIONS WITH MY GP TO BE ON-LINE.
End of argument - they are MY private records. The fact that they are going to go on-line anyway say's everything I need to know about the project and the people who support it.
<...>GPs are happy to gloss over the significant potential benefits but more importantly also overlook that their own paper files / records are far from safe<...>
Look I'm happy for YOU to put YOUR records on-line but why are we being told that it will be all but compulsory? I CHOOSE not to have mine on-line and I accept that I will miss out on all the "significant potential benefits" you claim.
As for paper records the difference is that you would have to break into a significant number of practices to build a useful (saleable) data set. It would also be fairly obvious that the records were missing.
It should be a completely opt-in choice. As it is nobody in their right mind would trust the security of a large HMG IT project with a million clients. The way HMG is heading nobody should assume that the information would not fall under future amendments to RIPA either.
<...>El Reg ought to look at a slashdot-like moderation system or full-transparency (as is partially implemented in Digg) so that we can see exactly from what IP ranges / groups of users the lobby groups are coming.<...>
This isn't Digg and we are not the mutual masturbation society that live at Digg. WARNING : Actual opinions may vary.
Me and my lobby group are off to work now (for Big Oil of course) so I'll leave you with a bit of light reading. I'll leave the summary too as I feel you probably won't be reading it.
WARNING : Viewing the listed material could lead to excommunication from Digg
http://www.michaelcrichton.com/speech-environmentalismaseligion.html
"Increasingly it seems facts aren't necessary, because the tenets of environmentalism are all about belief. It's about whether you are going to be a sinner, or saved. Whether you are going to be one of the people on the side of salvation, or on the side of doom. Whether you are going to be one of us, or one of them."
<...> BTW I'm suprised at the lack of intellectual debate here...and anyone who quotes from the 'Great Global Warming Swindle' should be sectioned under the mental health act as a threat to society <...>
Yes, I believe that's one of the methods all the major religions fall back on to silence heretics.
He's probably paid by "big oil" or some such but what the hell ....
http://www.michaelcrichton.com/speech-environmentalismaseligion.html
<...>Suggest you wake up from your denial paralysis and stop swallowing hook, line and sinker the media messages planted by the corporates to discredit the genuine research that has been undertaken.<...>
The worrying thing about the whole climate issue for many is complete lack of criticism by the corporates or indeed anyone else. When people become afraid to speak out against the prevailing view for whatever reason you have moved well beyond the realms of science.
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