A PlusNet customer has been invited to join a BT trial of behavioural ad-serving technology from Phorm.
At 11.25am on Monday, a PlusNet customer let their broadband provider know that they had been invited to take part in the trial of the technology BT has branded 'Webwise'. However, web users who are not direct BT Retail customers are not supposed to be folded into the Phorm trial.
The customer was one of 250 taking part in an unconnected trial on the BT Retail Internet Network (RIN). The invitation is believed to have been sent due to a configuration error. Although Sheffield-based PlusNet is part of the BT group, it is run as a separate business.
"PlusNet customers using RIN should not normally see the BT Webwise invitation screen or be able to join the BT Webwise trial," said PlusNet in a statement. "This case is believed to have been due to a configuration error, which we acted on as soon as we were made aware of it."
BT and PlusNet said that no further PlusNet customers should be presented with the BT Webwise screen, and PlusNet customers' web traffic would not form any part of the BT Webwise trial.
BT began its third trial of Phorm's ad-serving technology at the end of September. The technology has attracted protests from campaigners, peers, politicians and thinktanks, who have expressed concerns over legal and privacy issues.
