One such study aims to analyse the enormous amounts of data logged during digital surveys of the whole sky using large telescopes.

ECONOMIST: REPORT: COMPUTER NETWORKS: Computing power on tap | The

So far, the group has logged almost two million data points through a public online program called Nature's Notebook and hopes to add an additional million observations this year.

WSJ: A Science of Signs of Spring

This data is certainly logged.

FORBES: BP's Deepwater Disaster: What Happened And Why?

But the capture and initial interrogation data was not properly logged in the heat of battle.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Guantanamo Bay: five years later

For logged-in users, the data just needs to be anonymised within 90 days.

FORBES: Some Scolding, No Fines For Facebook After Irish Privacy Investigation

No data is collected when a user is not logged in.

CNN: Google seeks to clarify new privacy policy

The student has now logged a list of 22 separate complaints to the Irish data protection commissioner, which is due to carry out an audit of Facebook next week.

FORBES: Morning Tech Wrap: Apple, Facebook, Google

It is a packet-switched technology, and only consumes network resources when data is being transmitted, so it is widely expected that customers will be charged for the amount of data they exchange, rather than the time they spend logged on to the network.

CNN: AOL brings instant messenger to mobile phones

Security consultant and blogger Nik Cubrilovic said last night he had told Facebook repeatedly that it had been collecting data about which websites users were visiting even after they had logged out, The Australian reports.

FORBES: Morning Tech Wrap: Apple, Facebook, Groupon

On the horizon, new data services such as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) may make it cheaper for users to stay logged on to AIM all day.

CNN: AOL brings instant messenger to mobile phones