BT faces punishment for 'illegal' trial

[Waqas]

Source: British Computer Society

BT should face prosecution for its trial of Phorm, a computer security researcher has said.

Speaking to the BBC, Dr Richard Clayton of the University of Cambridge has said that the trial of the targeted advertising software was 'illegal'.

A leaked BT report has revealed that the telecommunications firm had trialled the software in 2006 and it continues to go ahead with a further test later in the summer.

Because BT did not inform the 30,000 customers subjected to the trial that they were involved, its actions have been called illegal.

Dr Clayton said: '[This] clearly shows that back in 2006 BT illegally intercepted their customers' web traffic, and illegally processed their personal data.'

He continued, saying that BT was 'delighted' with the results and 'looking forward' to a new and invisible system.

This was not how internet service providers were expected to treat their customers and the company should now expect to face prosecution, he said.

Phorm delivers targeted advertising based on user's browsing habits.