Virgin Media has overhauled its London Underground WiFi service – which went live last week – following complaints from privacy campaigners that it was snooping on customers’ emails and web browsing activity.
MPs and privacy campaigners had raised concerns over the issue, with Conservative MP Robert Halfon claiming that “a surveillance society is being created on the Underground”.
Originally, the terms and conditions stated that Virgin Media “may monitor email and internet communications, including without limitation, any content or material transmitted over the services”.
The company has now revised the wording, stating that it “has the right to restrict access to any inappropriate content on the service,” and specifying that personal information will not be passed on to third parties unless it is required to do so for legal or regulatory reasons.
A Virgin Media statement stated: “We are not monitoring how individuals use our WiFi service and have clarified our T&Cs to make this clear. We block illegal or harmful content in line with our legal and regulatory obligations.”
A company spokesman insisted that this is not a U-turn, because Virgin never intended to snoop on customers. The clause was simply included to enable it to fulfil legal obligations to block certain content, such as illegal file-sharing sites.
The spokesman also said the company had a moral obligation to block things like adult content in public areas.
Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, welcomed the move. “Clearly such broad terms and conditions were a cause for concern and I’m pleased Virgin have moved quickly to address this serious privacy issue,” he said. “The public should be able to use WiFi services without fear of their internet use and emails being monitored.”
WiFi was turned on at several Tube stations including King’s Cross, Oxford Circus and Victoria last week, allowing commuters and visitors to get online while underground. Virgin Media hopes to connect 80 stations by the end of July, and 120 stations by the end of 2012.
