Internet privacy laws warning

14 April 2009 12:35pm

The Government has been threatened with EU legal action unless it tightens UK internet privacy laws.

The warning came from the European Commission after an inquiry into UK consumer complaints about the use of "behavioural advertising technology" used by internet service providers.

The technology, known as "Phorm", constantly analyses web surfers' interests and targets relevant advertising at them.

The technology is legitimate, but the Commission says there are problems in the UK because of the way the Government has implemented EU rules on communications confidentiality.

Launching the first stage of legal action, EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said: "Technologies such as internet behavioural advertising can be useful for businesses and consumers but they must be used in a way that complies with EU rules. These rules are there to protect the privacy of citizens and must be rigorously enforced by all member states."

She went on: "I call on the UK authorities to change their national laws and ensure that national authorities are duly empowered and have proper sanctions at their disposal to enforce EU legislation on the confidentiality of communications.

"This should allow the UK to respond more vigorously to new challenges to ePrivacy and personal data protection such as those that have arisen from the Phorm case. It should also help reassure UK consumers about their privacy and data protection while surfing the internet."

The Commission began investigating after receiving complaints from UK individuals and UK MEPs a year ago when BT admitted it had tested Phorm in 2006 and 2007 without informing customers involved in the trial.

BT then carried out a second, invitation-based trial at the end of last year.

A Commission statement said Brussels had sent "several" letters to the UK authorities since July last year asking for details about the implementation of EU confidentiality laws in the wake of the Phorm case.

© The Press Association