Cyber Law - Is the Cat chasing its tail

It was reported in one of today's papers that an Austrian student had requested Facebook to provide him with all personal data collected from three years of using the site.  It was further reported that Facebook provided the student with 1,222 pages of data.

Some of the comments in relation to the article were quite interesting.  One of the more interesting comments was 'Facebook is like a pub.  You don't like what you see, go to another pub.  Nobody's twisting your arm'.

Of course, Facebook is not like a pub and if it is to be compared to a pub, then there are no other pubs in town with a virtual and real monopoly on social networking.  I am not sure of any pub that could handle 800 million patrons let alone get approval to do it from Liquor Licensing.

Consumer harvesting was the mantra and is often an allegation that is raised against Facebook.  The term 'harvesting' is quite unappealing. 

There appears to be two distinct groups that are divided on Facebook.  Those that love it and those that hate it.  Various generations also have different views.  It is common that elderly people don't like it, don't understand it and therefore form a view that there must be something wrong with it.

There are of course many other forms of social or business activity on the Internet.  LinkedIn is a good example.  I am a member of both Facebook and LinkedIn.  Neither of which I find particularly useful.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney issued a statement (presumably short) on Twitter in relation to the Police behaviour relating to removal of the anti-capitalism demonstration in Sydney.  I suppose one of the questions is why?  Was it that important that her views had to be immediately sent to all and sundry to state her position?

The Family Court recently approved service of proceedings by email.

The Government continually amends its Privacy Laws for the protection of the individual.  These laws in fact can sometimes be quite frustrating as one has to answer endless questions to get answers from communication providers, banks, utility providers etc.

In the end, computers, the internet and its associated programs are critical for modern society.  The Australian Stock Exchange went offline today for four hours.  Traders who were interviewed complained that they couldn't close trades, open trades or effectively do anything.

Stephen Wilcox
Australian Lawyer