British internet users do not appear to be the best protected in Europe. The European Commission announced, on 14 April, that it has sent a letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom after receiving two complaints from internet users whose personal data had been used without their consent by a behavioural advertising technology known as Phorm. The notice represents the first stage of infringement proceedings, which can continue up to referral to the Court of Justice.rnPhorm is used to analyse internet users' habits on a continuous basis to determine their interests and send them targeted advertising when they visit certain websites. British Telecom, the incumbent operator, admits that it tested Phorm in 2006 and 2007 without informing customers. From October to December 2008, BT carried out a new trial of the technology, this time on invitation, explained the Commission. The second trial resulted in a number of complaints to the UK data protection authority and to the Commission, as well as protests by British MEPs.
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