Virgin Media
In early 2008 it was announced that the ISP arm of Virgin Media had entered into a contract (along with BT and Talk Talk) with the former spyware company Phorm (responsible under their 121Media guise for the Apropos rootkit)[61][62] to intercept and analyse their users' click-stream data, and sell the anonymised aggregate information as part of Phorm's OIX advertising service.[63][64] The practice, which has become known as "data pimping", came under intense fire from various internet communities and other interested-parties who believe that the interception of data is illegal under UK law (RIPA).[65][66][67][68] At a more fundamental level, many have argued that the ISPs and Phorm have no right to sell a commodity (a user's data) to which they have no claim of ownership. In response to questions about Phorm and the interception of data by the Webwise system Sir Tim Berners-Lee is quoted as saying:
"It's mine - you can't have it. If you want to use it for something, then you have to negotiate with me." - Sir Tim Berners-Lee: 2008[69]
Though Phorm initially claimed that Virgin Media had signed an exclusive contract and were committed to implementing Phorm's Webwise tracking system, Virgin Media have since distanced themselves from this and now state that they have only signed a preliminary contract with Phorm to better understand the tracking technology, and are under no obligation to implement it.[70] Reports on the Guardian website in May 2008 suggest that Virgin Media may be further distancing themselves from the controversial system.[71]
[
Notes
- ^ Compare Virgin Media Confirms Review of Strategic Alternatives. Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
- ^ Carlyle Courts Virgin Media. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ ntl:Telewest Business - Company history. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ a b "NTL takes control of Virgin Net", BBC News, 2004-09-28. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ Ambit Broadband. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
- ^ Chetnet Knowledge Base. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
- ^ NTL (2006-11-09). "Ntl Incorporated Discussions with ITV plc". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
- ^ ITV plc (2006-11-09). "ITV and NTL 'in merger talks'". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
- ^ Welsh, James. "Sky buys 17.9% of ITV", Digital Spy, 2006-11-17. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
- ^ Wilkes, Neil. "Sky/ITV: Branson statement in full", Digital Spy, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
- ^ Welsh, James. "Ofcom examines impact of Sky's ITV stake", Digital Spy, 2006-11-21. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
- ^ Oatts, Joanne. "NTL complains about Sky as it drops plans for ITV Ofcom", Digital Spy, 2006-12-06. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
- ^ Welsh, James. "Virgin Media to launch on February 8", Digital Spy, 2007-02-02. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
- ^ "UPDATE 1-BSkyB's basic TV channels withdrawn from Virgin Media", reuters.com, 2007-03-01, pp. 2. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. (English)
- ^ Virgin in talks with BSkyB over cable spat
- ^ "Consumer body angry at BSkyB row", BBC, 2007-03-02. Retrieved on 2007-03-02. (English)
- ^ "Virgin TV in BSkyB legal threat", BBC, 2007-03-05. Retrieved on 2007-03-05. (English)
- ^ "Virgin TV in BSkyB court action", BBC, 2007-04-12. Retrieved on 2007-04-12. (English)
- ^ "Setanta signs Virgin Media sports deal", The Guardian, 2007-07-20. Retrieved on 2007-07-20.
- ^ BBC NEWS | Technology | Virgin broadband outage resolved
- ^ Digital Television Update - 2007 Q3 | Ofcom
- ^ Download and Upload speeds of Virgin Broadband. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ a b Non-cable. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ PAYG Dial Up. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Subscription Dial Up. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Virgin Media Broadband Pricing. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ 4Mb to be upgraded to 10Mb for free. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ Wireless - Benefits of wireless. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Virgin Broadband. Retrieved on 2007-05-03..
- ^ Digital Media Asia: News - NTL to begin 100 Mbit/s broadband trial in March. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ ntl: Announces Technology Trials 1 - Chetnet Unofficial NTLworld Forums. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Chetnet Knowledge Base. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Virgin Media and Proxy Servers - Chetnet Unofficial NTLworld Forums. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Cable - News - Virgin plans action on pirate subscribers - Digital Spy
- ^ Virgin Media takes fight to illegal downloaders - Telegraph
- ^ Cable - News - Virgin denies 'three strikes' agreement - Digital Spy
- ^ The Open Rights Group : Blog Archive » European Parliament condemns “3 strikes” approach
- ^ The Communications Market: Digital Progress Report -Digital TV Q3 2007, Ofcom. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ a b White, Dominic. "Virgin media launch to cost £20m", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-01-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
- ^ Virgin begins analogue cable switch off. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ Virgin Media Trialist Application Form - ASHFORD - DOVER - FOLKESTONE. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
- ^ Virgin 'to replace TV platform' in 2009. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
- ^ Virgin Media launches Virgin Free TV across the UK. Retrieved on 2008-01-30..
- ^ What is Free TV?. Retrieved on 2008-01-30..
- ^ Channel list. Retrieved on 2008-01-30..
- ^ Virgin Media Reports Fourth Quarter 2006 Results. Retrieved on 2008-01-30..
- ^ Virgin Media Reports Second Quarter 2007 Results. Retrieved on 2008-01-30..
- ^ Virgin Media 'to delay IPTV rollout'. Retrieved on 2008-01-30..
- ^ http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051255 http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/
- ^ Virgin Mobile - About Us - Virgin Mobile
- ^ ntl:Telewest Business - Merger Q&A
- ^ Digital Spy (4 April 2006). NTL confirms £1bn Virgin Mobile takeover. Digital Spy.
- ^ Yahoo Finance (31 January 2007). VIRGIN ENTERTAINMENT INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LTD: Declared Holdings. Yahoo Finance.
- ^ Burch quits at Virgin Media after power struggle in boardroom (Times Online)
- ^ An open letter to Richard Branson, Avonline PLC and Virgin Media.
- ^ Save the Internet.
- ^ Virgin Media faces net neutrality boycott - vnunet.com
- ^ Virgin Media faces net neutrality boycott / P2PViNE
- ^ STOP Virgin: Keep Virgin from destroying the Internet
- ^ Virgin Media mops up CEO's 'boll*cks' outburst | The Register
- ^ F-Secure Spyware Information Pages: Apropos
- ^ F-Secure Spyware Information Pages: PeopleOnPage
- ^ ISP data deal with former 'spyware' boss triggers privacy fears
- ^ How Phorm plans to tap your internet connection
- ^ Web users angry at ISPs' spyware tie-up
- ^ Data pimping: surveillance expert raises illegal wiretap worries
- ^ Net think thank: Phorm is illegal
- ^ The Phorm “Webwise” System - a Legal Analysis
- ^ Web creator rejects net tracking
- ^ Virgin Media distances itself from Phorm 'adoption' claims
- ^ File under "rumour:unconfirmed": Virgin to shun Phorm?
[
External links
- Virgin Media (digital TV, broadband, phone and mobile)
- ntl:Telewest Business
- Virgin Broadband Corporate
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