Four days ago I published a blog in which I said we ought to think about mounting a large scale and sustained public campaign which would aim to inculcate more appropriate attitudes towards online privacy and instil some better habits among us all.

Today a carrier pigeon lands on my window sill bearing the news that the Government has just announced plans to do exactly that! School age children will be a key target group, as are a class of adult males who, seemingly, are prone to be reckless. Doesn’t fit anyone I know but there you go.

If only I could convince myself that the civil servants or Ministers responsible had read my blog first and it provided the final, conclusive piece of evidence they needed to press the button. Vanity, vanity, get thee behind me. Still, it’s good to know it is happening. But I’m going to be very careful what I wish for next. A great start to 2013.