Brains working towards machine consciousness

I have been told that some staff at UK HE institutions are creating fake IDs on Facebook and 'friending' students in order to be able to check up on their behaviour.  Now, this is only 'hearsay' - I haven't seen any hard evidence, but I was told by one student that they had been emailed by a member of staff to tell them that fake IDs were being used.

I have a couple of problems with this, apart from the issue of supposedly responsible adults creating IDs on a social network and actively trying to 'friend' their students...

Firstly, it is against the Terms and Conditions of Facebook.  

Secondly, if it is really happening, or, indeed, even if the story just gets around (which the staff are rather promoting, if they have really told students about it), then it undermines the reputation of the institution.

Thirdly, from careful reading of the Data Protection Act and the Information Commissioner's website, it is almost certainly a breach of the Data Protection Act.

In a way, it would almost be better if they just did in a totally covert way, and never admitted having fake IDs.  At least then they would not be setting the example to their students that you don't have to abide by T&Cs, social norms or the law.