The Phorm system, which controversially works with UK broadband ISPs (e.g. BT WebWise) to monitor what websites you visit for use in targeted advertising campaigns, has denied a report that both BT and Virgin Media were seeking to distance themselves from the system.


The related story on New Media Age (NMA) noted that Virgin Media, which had previously viewed Phorm's technology with interest, was now pursuing alternatives; specifically one from Audience Science. The article included mention of a BT "source", which claims that the ISP could also move away from using Phorm.


Typically several major online websites, including Amazon, Wikipedia and LiveJournal among others, recently opted-out of having their sites users monitored and profiled by Phorm's system. The EU followed soon after by expanding its investigation of Deep Packet Technology (DPI) to cover Phorm as well.

However Virgin Media has since informed another site, The Register , that there is no truth to NMA's report and that they have taken discussions concerning different parts of the business out of context. Meanwhile BT, which has to date been one of Phorm's strongest supporters, cryptically chose not to comment.