Home Office Disclosure: Phorm
Pete John
ukcrypto at chiark.greenend.org.uk
Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:47:44 +0100
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I asked the Home Office, under the Freedom of Information Act, to explain
whether they were made aware that BT were testing Phorm systems in 2006/7,
whether the trial was authorised by the Home Office, when they first started
advising BT/Phorm/ISPs, and what instruction they are giving Police
Detectives.
>From the statement received the Home Office I draw these conclusions.
The Home Office were unaware that systems supplied by Phorm were being used
to monitor Internet traffic in 2006/7.
Consequently, the trail was likely to have indiscriminately intercepted
traffic relating to Military Staff, Police Officers, Judges, Solicitors,
MPs, Doctors, Bankers, Civil Servants, Security Services and ordinary
citizens without any Home Office advice or oversight.
There was no authorisation given by the Home Office to conduct trials of
Phorm in 2006/7.
The first contact with the Home Office was 4 February 2008... meaning that
Phorm and BT conducted trials in 2006/7 without ever consulting the Home
Office, and acted without that advice in hand (including advice concerning
consent to intercept, and assumed consent).
And no Police Detectives have sought advice from the Home Office concerning
RIPA. (I plan to pursue that question; what advise would Police Officers be
given?).
The response received from Simon Watkin is shared with you below.
regards
Pete.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr John,
You write:
“…. it is clear your office were advising Phorm in January 2008. Well before
the public announcement of agreements between Phorm and Internet Service
Providers”
The Home Office was approached by a number of parties, both technology
providers and ISPs, seeking a view about issues relating to the provision of
targeted online advertising services, particularly their relation to Part 1
of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The single response to
those requests was made in the informal guidance note, dated January 2008,
which was not made available to any of those parties until 4 February 2008.
Please now inform me
- Whether the Home Office were made aware of the secret trials conducted by
Phorm in 2006/7
It wasn’t.
- Whether the Home Office authorised secret trials conducted by Phorm in
2006/7
The Home Office was not aware of the trials/tests.
- When you first started advising BT and Phorm (and other ISPs)
Asked for a view we gave that view to all parties who asked for it on or
after 4 February 2008.
- What advice Police Detective Inspectors are being given by the Home Office
concerning prosecutions of BT (and other ISPs)
No such advice has been sought.
I have asked my press office to communicate this response to Chris Williams
at The Register.
Simon Watkin
HOME OFFICE
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<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><SPAN class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN><FONT =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>I asked the Home Office, under =
the Freedom of=20
Information Act, to explain whether they were made aware that =
BT were=20
testing Phorm systems in 2006/7, whether the trial was authorised by the =
Home=20
Office, when they first started advising BT/Phorm/ISPs, and what =
instruction=20
they are giving Police Detectives.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>From the=20
statement received the Home Office I draw these=20
conclusions.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>The Home=20
Office were unaware that systems supplied by Phorm were being used to =
monitor=20
Internet traffic in 2006/7.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>Consequently,=20
the trail was likely to have indiscriminately=20
intercepted traffic relating to Military Staff, Police =
Officers,=20
Judges, Solicitors, MPs, Doctors, Bankers, Civil Servants, Security =
Services and ordinary citizens without any Home Office advice or=20
oversight.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>There was no=20
authorisation given by the Home Office to conduct trials of Phorm in=20
2006/7.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>The first=20
contact with the Home Office was 4 February 2008... meaning that Phorm =
and BT=20
conducted trials in 2006/7 without ever consulting the Home Office, and =
acted=20
without that advice in hand (including advice concerning consent to =
intercept, and assumed consent).</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>And no Police=20
Detectives have sought advice from the Home Office concerning RIPA. =
(I plan=20
to pursue that question; what advise would Police Officers be=20
given?).</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008>The response=20
received from Simon Watkin is shared with you=20
below.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>regards</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>Pete.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D781192715-18042008><SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>---------------<SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>---------------<SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>---------------<SPAN=20
class=3D781192715-18042008>---------------</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR=
></DIV></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2></FONT></FONT>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear Mr=20
John,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">You=20
write:</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">=93=85. it is=20
clear your office were advising Phorm in January 2008. Well before the =
public=20
announcement of agreements between Phorm and Internet Service=20
Providers=94</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Home Office was =
approached by a=20
number of parties, both technology providers and ISPs, seeking a view =
about=20
issues relating to the provision of targeted online advertising =
services,=20
particularly their relation to Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory =
Powers=20
Act 2000. The single response to those requests was made in the =
informal=20
guidance note, dated January 2008, which was not made available to any =
of those=20
parties until </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4 February =
2008</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Please now inform=20
me</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">- Whether=20
the Home Office were made aware of the secret trials conducted by Phorm =
in=20
2006/7</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It =
wasn=92t.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">- Whether=20
the Home Office authorised secret trials conducted by Phorm in=20
2006/7</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Home Office was not =
aware of the=20
trials/tests.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">- When you=20
first started advising BT and Phorm (and other =
ISPs)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Asked for a view we gave =
that view=20
to all parties who asked for it on or after </SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4 February=20
2008</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3Dblue=20
size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">- What=20
advice Police Detective Inspectors are being given by the Home Office =
concerning=20
prosecutions of BT (and other ISPs)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">No such advice has been=20
sought.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I have asked my press =
office to=20
communicate this response to Chris Williams at The =
Register.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Simon =
Watkin</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">HOME=20
OFFICE</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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