This topic

BT web protect and privacy

sbp — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:06:04 GMT

ive just been told i now have BT web protect turned on automatically... great im now protected....

So each time i go online and visit a website BT comes in and checks the website to make sure its safe... all well and good...

but does anything else happen?

Is it tracking which websites i go to?

is it storing this info somewhere?

is it creating a profile of me based on this info?

is it selling this data to third parties to advertise and target me?

whilst i would love to believe in the benevolence of BT - i know what happens in the real world! So id like to see a privacy policy or some assurance as to what it does when it tracks my usage.

thanks

Re: BT web protect and privacy

pottyperson — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 10:31:35 GMT

Good questions. I would add, "Will it be turn-offable?"

Re: BT web protect and privacy

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 10:44:53 GMT

@pottyperson wrote:

Good questions. I would add, "Will it be turn-offable?"

It always have been controllable via MyBT, but it was up to the user to enable it, BT are just enabling it by default.

BT and other ISPs, have always been able to see which sites you visit, and I think they may have to keep a record of it, for a period of time, but I am not sure.

Re: BT web protect and privacy

pottyperson — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 11:52:58 GMT

Thanks Keith, but my concern is that it remains controllable. Turning it on by default gives BT the opportunity to make it difficult to opt out à la BT Wifi.

Re: BT web protect and privacy

gg30340 — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 14:31:04 GMT

Of course BT know what sites you visit, or at least what sites your IP address is visiting.

They will store this information and if required by a court order hand it over to the Police or other interested agency.

See link for BT's Privacy Policy.

https://www.bt.com/privacy-policy/