Privacy groups continue boycott up to Intel PIII launch

Privacy groups have increased their protests about Intel?s forthcoming Pentium III, only days before its official launch.

The groups have already launched a boycott against all Intel products following the company?s announcement that it will include new ID verification technology in the Pentium III which they fear will be used to track users? surfing activities and are therefore an invasion of privacy.

The groups, which include UK based Privacy International, have also urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Intel over the matter.

Now they are bombarding other privacy and consumer groups with letters asking them to approach the FTC about getting involved.

Intel had switched the technology within the chips to default off rather than on, but the groups claim this is not enough and have called for Intel to remove the technology completely and recall any chips already shipped.

The Pentium III makes its official debut on 26 February but the privacy groups have asked the FTC to consider preventing Intel from shipping any chips including the new technology and have warned PC makers not to ship machines which feature the new processor.