Police have confirmed they arrested a journalist and seized his computer on Queensland's Gold Coast yesterday, after he published a story about a Facebook security flaw.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hay today likened the issue to receiving stolen goods, but refused to go into details of Fairfax journalist Ben Grubb's case.

"Let me give you an analogy. Someone breaks into a house and they steal a TV and they give that TV to you, and you know that TV is stolen, and you apply it to your own use ... that's receiving stolen property," he said.

"I'm not going to go into the details of the specifics of the case."

Grubb was arrested at the AusCERT IT security conference after he wrote the Facebook story for Fairfax.

"I've been arrested by Queensland Police for a story I wrote today. They've also seized my iPad," he said on Twitter yesterday.

His article told how a presenter at a pre-conference event gained access to privacy-protected photos in another person's Facebook account. The article was accompanied by a photo lifted from the account.

The article is still online but the photo has been removed.

Police initially denied Grubb was arrested, but later said he had been detained for questioning. This morning, police media said on Twitter that he had in fact been arrested.

"Our bad @bengrubb was arrested for questioning briefly Our tweet last night was based on information provided at the time Apologies," they said.

Detective Superintendent Hay says he understands it is a sensitive case.

"But no-one is immune. I've worked in the CMC [Crime and Misconduct Commission], I've investigated police, corrupt officials - you name it," he said.

"They're unpleasant scenarios that we have to do, but no-one is immune - not cops, not politicians, not journalists."

The ABC has contacted Grubb for comment.