Slightly different I know buy Facebook have run into trouble with making it difficult for people to remove their details from the site and deleting their info from all the applicatios and the like, they have ben instructed by the authorities to make it easier or face the consequences, so surely a similar argument can be applied to a writing site where a member wants their details and work removed.

I know that there's something tied in to the UK data protection act that means sites based in the UK (or something... I'm not sure of the exact details) have to scrub your details if requested.

I don't know if that applies if you are a UK citizen on a US-based website, though I'd doubt it. However, it does mean that sites such as Ciao and Dooyoo DO have to scrub all of your details (inc. reviews) if requested.

Quoting law shouldn't be necessary though.