links for 2008-02-11

"That something as ubiquitous as social networks are exploited by paedophiles and criminals is not surprising. Happily, the numbers affected are small. But the use of content in civil disputes, divorces, employment & legal actions will affect far more."

"Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz blamed the toll of international football for his side's defeat by Manchester City". Yep, must have been that. Clearly not the 6,000 mile trip they made to play a friendly in Saudi Arabia the other week.

"It will stop people from accessing websites that contain [child porn]. Mobile phone companies which sign up will work with police and child protection agencies to ensure that blacklisted websites cannot be viewed on mobile phones". What took so long?

"Ministers want to block the phone numbers of prostitutes who advertise their services in telephone booths in an attempt to stifle the illegal sex trade". 100GBP to the first person to get their mate's number blocked by putting it up on fake cards.

"I got hysterical & offensive emails from readers who had seen or been sent my article. Why hadn't I done anything to stop the removal of the Holocaust from schools, they asked, only not so politely. I tried to explain, but the emails & calls got nastier"

Alexandra Frean's original article now has nearly 550 user comments on it.