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Czech state may cover first language exam costs for foreigners ... the European Union about the controversial online ad system Phorm.

EU commissioner Viviane Reding has asked the UK government to clarify whether the system is in breach of European data laws.

Phorm's so-called Webwise system tracks users' web habits in order to better target ads at them.

BT is due to begin a widescale trial of the service imminently.

No action

Revelations that the telco conducted secret trials without seeking the consent of customers have led opponents of the scheme to call for it to be prosecuted.

They believe BT's two earlier trials were illegal because users were not informed that their web habits were under surveillance.

But the Information Commission ruled in May that no action would be taken against the telco due to the difficult nature of explaining to consumers what it was doing.

It said anyone using Phorm - and Virgin Media and Talk Talk are also signed up - must ask for the consent of users before going ahead with any further trials.

E-petition

The letter from Mrs Reding, the details of which are not publicly known, was sent in mid-July and the UK government has until the end of August to respond.

According to a spokesman for Reding's information society and media commission, there is already a "dialogue" with the UK government although no details of this have been revealed.

"We are working with a number of departments on a response," said a spokeswoman for the Department of Business.

The Foundation for Information Policy Research (Fipr) has been one of the more outspoken critics of Phorm.

Fipr's general counsel Nicholas Bohm believes ISPs instigating the system could find website owners objecting.

"There is going to be increased focus on the rights of website owners and their right to prevent material being used to the advantage of their competitors," he said.

He believes pressure from the EU may force the Information Commissioner to re-examine the system when BT rolls it out.

"BT will persuade themselves to do it because they see a lot of money in it but it is unlikely that it will be compliant," he said.

An e-petition on the Downing Street website calling for Phorm to be dropped has so far attracted over 16,000 signatures.

(BBC)

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