Data pimping is a pejorative term used to describe the act of an Internet service provider (ISP) profiting from the sale of its users' personal clickstream data

Clickstream

A clickstream is the recording of the parts of the screen a computer user clicks on while web browsing or using another software application. As the user clicks anywhere in the webpage or application, the action is logged on a client or inside the web server, as well as possibly the web browser,...

. The practice of data pimping first appeared through British Telecom's secret, allegedly illegal trials of the controversial Webwise system developed by Phorm

Phorm

Phorm, formerly known as 121Media, is a Delaware, United States-based digital technology company known for its advertising software. Founded in 2002, the company originally distributed programs that were considered spyware, from which they made millions of dollars in revenue...

, a former spyware

Spyware

Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...

 company. The phenomenon of data pimping is being researched and utilized by several ISPs, both in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Previously Partnered with Phorm

• British Telecom - BT retail
• Talk Talk

For a detailed list of UK ISPs with regards to their application of intra ISP spyware technologies, see http://badphorm.co.uk/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?11