I think the reason the member info was locked up was that it was lifted (by registered members who also happened to be lying psychos) for creating fake Facebook profiles.

Most forums have similar information and don't get a similar problem. The explanation is probably legal/sociological - if someone tried that using LinkedIn, Google or Twitter profile information, the sysadmins would happily cooperate with the cops in getting the perpetrator prosecuted. Max won't do that and the fakers took advantage because they knew they could get away with it.