IP addresses and personal information (was Re: [LINK] Fwd: On Line Opinion - 16 February 2007)

[Irene Graham]

On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 12:15:38 +1100, Marghanita da Cruz wrote:

> Howard Lowndes wrote:
>> Irene Graham wrote:
[...]
>>>> not exactly. I am suggesting the labels are creative and used to
>>>> classify people which is a widespread practice.
>>>>
>>>> Seniors, Young People, Wage Earners, Aspirational, Professional
>>>> by trying to classify their interests/behaviour/expenditure
>>>> pattern.
>>>
>>>
>>> What I do not understand is how can they classify web site visitors
>>> into those or any other categories -if- they are only collecting
>>> completely anonymised information from ISPs?
>>
>>
>> I agree.  I think it's just hopeful marketing puff.
>>
>>
> How would they do it if they did have an IP address - do ISPs profile
> their customers in this way?

One would certainly hope ISPs do not, given disclosure/use of such 
information would almost certainly be in breach of s276 of the 
Telecommunications Act 1997 which carries a penalty of up to 2 years 
imprisonment.

While there are exceptions to s276, none of them apply to disclosure to a 
another business (that is is not carriage service provider) without the 
consent or knowledge of relevant individuals.

Imo it is most probable that the demographic data claims are complete 
guesswork.

Nevertheless when businesses publish claims about using  IP addresses 
"unique to individuals" and indicating they have demographic information 
about such individuals, and it appears to be technically impossible for 
them to have obtained such information without either them or some ISPs 
breaching one or more laws, they ought not be surprised when other people 
start asking questions.

Irene