MySpace turns around fast - will now provide data about sex offenders

8 attorney generals from different states sent a letter to MySpace requesting for information from MySpace about its users who are registered sex offenders, so as to determine whether such people were using MySpace to lure children into actual physical encounters. MySpace took the high path, grandly declaring that they are legally required not to provide this information, claiming that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 prohibited them from doing so without a subpeona.
This response was not exactly appreciated by the attorney generals, and now it seems that even after this initial refusal, there were negotiations being carried out. An accord has now been signed for tranferring this data, refer this link:

MySpace initially asserted that it was legally unable to comply with the requests set forth in a letter sent earlier this month from the attorneys general of eight states--Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The letter asking that the social-networking site provide the data, cited concerns "that sexual predators are using MySpace to lure children into face-to-face encounters and other dangerous activities."
But MySpace responded that it couldn't turn the information over due to the terms of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, which technically prohibits such information from being shared without a subpoena, as well as some state privacy laws.
It appears, however, that an accord was struck late last week. Through MySpace's newly announced partnership with the attorneys general, Angus and Nigam said, the company will be able to address the federal and state laws. Company representatives emphasized that the social network had always planned to share the Sentinel Safe data with the attorneys, who could then pass the information on to law enforcement officials in their states.
MySpace.com unveiled a plan Monday for cooperating with requests from state attorneys general for data pertaining to registered sex offenders. According to a statement from the company, MySpace will provide the Multi-State Attorney General Executive Committee with data from Sentinel Safe, the database of information on registered sex offenders that the company has compiled through its partnership with identity verification firm Sentinel Tech Holding. Sentinel Safe, which contains data aggregated from state registries, has been in the works since late last year and was officially deployed May 2.
"Up until now, the predators have felt like they can have a free ride (on social-networking sites), and that day is over," Angus said.

It seems like the intial refusal by MySpace and the harsh reaction from the attorney generals prompted this change in tactics by MySpace. Aware that they were on a weak pitch in terms of apparently refusing to cooperate against people carrying out crimes against children, MySpace did a quick about-turn, using previous lack of technology as an excuse. Otherwise, what prompted a 180 degree about turn within the space of a few days ?