Both Facebook and Google are under fresh attack for their online privacy rules, reviving fears that online privacy is being disregarded for commercial gain. Search engine Google has been collecting private data from wi-fi networks, which the company has said was an accidental fault with its street view service.

Julian Ranger, business investor and founder of Social Safe, commented that Facebook's privacy settings are "unethical".

"Facebook's privacy settings are not easy to use and that is deliberate."

Peter Barron, Google's director of communications for North and Central Europe, said the company had apologised for its "accidental collection" of personal information from the public's wi-fi networks, "we are determined to learn the lessons from this mistake".

"Collection of data is not to know anything about you as an individual, it is about providing a better service," he added.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.