The UK government may miss its deadline to respond to the European Commission’s allegations arising from the Phorm controversy regarding the protection of the integrity and privacy of the UK’s internet users.
The European Commission had set a deadline last year on 29 December 2009 asking for a reply from the government on whether the UK privacy laws are being ramped up to the agreed standards. An undertaking was required on part of the UK government that the privacy of its citizens would be protected and online privacy of content also would be tightened. According to Viviane Reding, the European Union (EU) Telecoms Commissioner, privacy and integrity of internet users is not only a crucial matter but a fundamental right and it is the duty of European law to ensure that the users’ privacy and his/her personal data are protected.
The UK government has not yet responded to these allegations and let the deadline pass. This has increased the probability of the European Court of Justice filing a case against the UK government.
The Home Office, which is handling the issue, commented on the latest development in the Phorm case stating that the UK government has always protected the privacy of its citizens. It also added that his government is taking into account the allegations made by the Commission and will respond to them in due course. The UK government has always been satisfied with the progress of the Phorm Case and the manner in which proceedings have taken place, although the ad-serving system has criticised the trial, since many BT broadband customers are required to be compulsorily enrolled in these trials.
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