Eircom's Golden Pages online directory was forced to close its residential search facility yesterday for the second time in six months for personal privacy violations. The Data Protection Commissioner's office demanded the shutdown following an inspection which revealed that data access problems had not been rectified as promised.

Deputy commissioner, Mr Tom Lynch said: "I wasn't satisfied this morning and requested they take the site down until the problems are sorted." Using a few keystrokes, visitors to www.goldenpages.ie could access the name, address and phone number of all residents on a particular street.