Toothless information commissar warns about Facebook

THIS IS THE WEEK that proved that the office of the UK Information Commissioner, supposed to regulate data, is a toothless watchdog with few powers to do anything but speak.

The loss of 25 million bits of info about UK citizens was denounced by InfoCommissar but that's about all he could today.

So today the Info Commissar will speak but unable to act today about the danger " social networks" pose to kids who place personal information on sites like Facebook and Myspace.

The Office has used taxpayers' money to discover the amazing fact that over three quarters of 14 to 21 year olds don't want employers to do a web search on them.

Kids are accepting as friends people they don't even know - which is a very kid like response.

Ninety five per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed by the commission don't want info passed on to others or to people flogging them ads.

Kids should also be careful what they bung in their bogs, said the folk from the InfoCommissariat.

What can be done? The Information Commissar's Office has started a website here which no doubt most kids will ignore. µ