British internet users are falling out of love with Facebook and the social-networking site has shed 400,000 visitors between December and January, the website’s first decline in users.
Facebook remains the UK’s most popular social-networking site with 8.5 million unique users at the end of January, according to new figures from Nielsen Online. But that is down from 8.9 million in December.
Security concerns about the amount of personal data people put on the site coupled with the decision of some employers to ban staff from accessing the site at work have reduced usage.
– The Guardian
The US secretary of defence, Robert Gates, arrives in the Indian capital, New Delhi, next week to promote a $10bn jet fighter contract, underlining the country’s emergence as one of the world’s biggest military markets. To update its Soviet-era arsenal India says it will need to spend $45bn in the next five years, and it has been courted by western states that are barred by arms embargoes from selling to China, the other expanding Asian military power.
– The Guardian
A database containing personal information about every child in England is at risk of security breaches, according to an independent study (Nicola Woolcock writes). Deloitte, the business services company, which was asked to review the ContactPoint system, said that further controls were needed over access to data. The Government released a five-page summary of the findings but refused to publish the report, claiming that it could put security arrangements at risk.
The database, due in the autumn, will list the name, address and date of birth of every child as well as contact details for their parents, doctors and schools.
– The Times
