BT 2006 trials of Phorm

[Richard Clayton]

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In article <F56FAAB4-EF20-477A-9774-C61B4D8D690C@batten.eu.org>, Ian
Batten <igb@batten.eu.org> writes

>If Phorm/BT can turn this into a debate about the critics, and not  
>about what is being criticised, they win.

They have already tried this tactic, by pointing out that FIPR had
criticised the RIP Bill when it was going through Parliament, and so it
was somehow wrong of FIPR to point out that their system would cause the
ISPs to commit s1 offences...

... unfortunately, they don't seem to have understood that RIP comes in
many Parts (nay Chapters) and that FIPR did _not_ campaign to keep the
IOCA definition of interception (IOCA 85 has a definition of
interception that makes it lawful if just one end gives permission, not
both ends as in s3(1)). FIPRs main issues related to who signed
warrants, what the oversight was, the definitions of comms data, and of
course pretty much all of Part III.

So Phorm just looked silly, and they seem to have moved on.

>  A bunch of IT geeks cuts a  
>similar figure to some vegan environmental protesters: amiable  
>eccentrics, who the man in the street doesn't really listen to.

I think that people generally "get" the idea that BT were snooping on
their browsing without telling them that they were listening in;

Rather like the greengrocer suddenly having a special offer on carrots
because the village postmistress, doubling as the switchboard operator,
heard you nattering on the phone yesterday about how you might make a
stew for hubbie this evening...

... you don't have to be a geek to understand the basics here!

>But if we want a victory in which a pragmatic campaign is ground out,  
>resulting in a regulatory framework which protects our interests and  
>prevents this encroachment on our privacy, the route is not the one  
>that's being embarked on.  It's a route of dealing rationally with  
>regulators, industry bodies, consumer groups, journalists and so on.   

I'd like to think that's the route that FIPR is taking :-)  Look for
various upcoming articles to move the debate along !

- -- 
richard                                              Richard Clayton

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.         Benjamin Franklin

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