In today’s “Reputation Management, Internet Privacy, and Social Media Quick Hits,” we’re talking Google Buzz, German pranksters, and naked NBA players. Check it out!

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Facebook Should Tell Google to Buzz Off

David Coursey at the PCWorld Tech Inciter blog says that if Facebook wants to maintain its position as the world’s leading search engine, it must make a stand and refuse to offer any integration with Google Buzz both now and in the future. Personally, given Facebook’s size, I don’t think Buzz represents a very significant threat. Unless Google can show that their social network is one where a user’s right to privacy is actually valued, what reason would people have for switching over?

German Pranksters Mock the Google Street View Car

German pranksters pulled a pretty amusing stunt with one of Google’s 360-degree camera-equipped Street View cars. By attaching a GPS device to the Street View vehicle, the group was able to track the car’s progress and spread the information to Berliners on Twitter. This led to a number of sights that Google would probably rather keep off of Street View, including a number of raised middle fingers and a handful of men walking past the camera in their underwear.

Germany is the latest in a long line of European countries to oppose Google Street View. Recently, Ilse Aigner, the German consumer protection minister, told Focus Magazine that she is considering legal options to prevent Google from taking street-level photography.

Seeking Privacy and Spare Time, People Drop Out of Social Network

Is there such a thing as social networking overload? This article from USA Today explores why some people are choosing to unplug from Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites to protect their privacy, reclaim free time, and spend more time with their friends and family in real life. How much of your life is tied to the web? Would you be comfortable shutting down your social media accounts?

Google Buzz Creepily Good at Finding Your Location

Barbara Krasnoff at Computerworld talks about her early experience with Google Buzz and why she thinks that the location sharing feature in the mobile version of Buzz is a little too precise for her liking.

San Antonio Spurs Player George Hill Apologizes for Nude Photo Online

NBA player George Hill has issued a formal apology through the San Antonio Spurs organization regarding recent sexually explict nude photos of him that have surfaced on the web. Currently, the Spurs are seeking to have the images removed, citing trademark infringement (one of the few ways to actually have success in removing unwanted images). Hill is not the only NBA player to get in trouble for sharing nude photos online. Just two weeks ago, Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden apologized after nude photos of him surfaced on the web.

We’ve said it’s important for parents to talk about sexting with their kids, but is it something that the NBA needs to explain to its players too?