"The collection and use of data by government and the private sector, the balancing of individual rights and liberties against privacy and security and the issue of how to tackle social exclusion, will be affected by these trends, " he said.

BBC: Web 're-defining' human identity says chief scientist

But as the government says, the Social Exclusion Unit is not just about fighting social ills, it is also about creating better services for the individual and the community as a whole.

BBC: News | UK | The long battle against social exclusion