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Web creator, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has told the BBC that he is against web tracking systems, and he would change his ISP if they introduced it. He believes that consumers need to be protected against systems which can track their activity on the Internet.

Recently, plans by leading ISPs to use Phorm, a company which tracks web activity to create personalised adverts, have sparked controversy. Like Sir Tim,  many people agree that their web history and data belongs to them, and no one should be able to have access to this without permission.

Talk Talk has said its customers will have to opt-in to use Phorm, while BT and Virgin, the two other companies which have signed up are still considering both opt-in and opt-out options.

Sir Tim thinks that the use of such private data could have negative effects for consumers : “I want to know if I look up a whole lot of books about some form of cancer that that’s not going to get to my insurance company and I’m going to find my insurance premium is going to go up by 5% because they’ve figured I’m looking at those books”.

Phorm however, has said that its system offers benefits for consumers, including security benefits which will warn users about potential phishing sites, which attempt to con users into handing over personal data.

Tags  BBC Internet ISP Phorm Sir Tim Berners-Lee web creator web tracking