In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about Facebook and divorce, European Union privacy laws, and why some employees lose their jobs because of the things they share online.

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New Jersey Councilman Asks if Governor is “On Crack” on Facebook

Newark City Councilman Ronald Rice Jr. went on Facebook to criticize New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s education stance. Rather than offering a constructive criticism, however, Rice wrote, ”Is our Governor on crack? No seriously, is he smoking or drinking something that is illegal or at least detrimental to one’s health?…Chris Christie is insane!!!!” The controversial statement ruffled some feathers among older politicians in the state, but is reflective of a new generation of politicians who are used to using the Internet to make casual (and occasionally offensive) remarks.

Employees Fired for Facebook Rants

This article in the Vancouver Sun discusses the recent case of a woman who was fired and denied a severance package after boasting about how much money she was going to receive from planned layoffs. It also touches on the case of the Connecticut woman who was fired for criticizing her boss on Facebook, as well as the efforts by National Labor Relations Board to defend the woman for wrongful termination. The author closes her article with the statement, “In cyberspace, nothing is private,” reflecting the growing understanding that the things we share online have real-life consequences.

Divorce Attorneys Thrive Thanks to Facebook

According to a survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, “Twenty percent of divorces involve Facebook and 80 percent of divorce lawyers have reported a spike in the number of cases that use social media for evidence.” This ABC News article discusses the role that Facebook plays in reconnecting ex-flames and details some cases where couples have cited Facebook infidelities as a cause for their divorce. Of course, the real reason for the divorce isn’t Facebook, but rather the unfaithful spouse. Nevertheless, the fundamental role that Facebook plays in shaping relationships is still fascinating, given the site’s relatively short history.

EU Justice Commissioner Argues for Unified Privacy Protections

At a recent conference, Viviane Reding, the EU’s justice commissioner, argued that the splintered response to Google’s Wi-Fi snooping scandal demonstrates the need for an overhaul of the European Union’s privacy protection framework. Earlier in the month, the European Commission outlined a possible new legal framework for dealing with data protection issues that also included stricter penalties for companies that violate user privacy.

How to Use “Do Not Track” Feature in Internet Explorer plus Plans for Firefox “Do Not Track” Feature

The idea of a “Do Not Track” law is currently percolating around Congress, but in the world of Internet browsers, it is already partially a reality. This article from the San Francisco Chronicle discusses how to use Internet Explorer’s “Do Not Track” feature to make it harder for Internet ad networks to follow you online. The article also discusses Mozilla’s possible plans to add a “Do Not Track” feature to its popular Firefox browser.

In today’s first post-Thanksgiving Quick Hits, we talk about surviving the company Christmas party, whether Diaspora has a shot at competing with Facebook, and the possibility of a “Do Not Track” bill in Congress.

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Surviving the Company Holiday Party with Your Reputation Intact  

From drinking too much to fooling around in the copy room, this article from MSNBC discusses some of the many ways employees can ruin their reputations in the workplace at the annual company holiday party. What the article doesn’t mention is how indiscretions at the holiday party can wind up online and further damage your good name with friends, family, and future employers as well.

Employee Suspended for Bragging About Upcoming Layoff

If you hate your job, getting fired and receiving a severance package may seem like a blessing. But that doesn’t mean you should brag about it online, as one UK worker found out. This article from MSNBC discusses how a bank employee may have cost himself his severance pay by bragging about an upcoming layoff online. The article also offers several other examples of employees who have gotten in trouble because of their online missteps.

First Look at Privacy Social Network Diaspora

When it was first announced, Diaspora received considerable media coverage for being a so-called “privacy aware” social network. Recently, Diaspora opened to a private Alpha test. In this article from Ars Technica, Ryan Paul shares his impressions of Diaspora and speculates as to whether the open source network will ever be able to compete with Facebook.

New Worm Hits Facebook

ZDNet journalist Zack Whittaker talks about a new Facebook worm that has infected thousands of users in a few hours. The worms rely on users to click a shortened link, which then takes them to an unsecured site where their Facebook account is compromised. From that point on, the worm spreads to the infected user’s friends and replicates some more. The prevalence of this worm and others like it raise questions about Facebook’s security as the company continues to grow.

Do Not Track Bill to be Debated in Congress

According to the Washington Post, this Thursday the “House subcommittee on commerce trade and consumer protection will examine the idea of a Do Not Track bill that would prohibit Web sites and third-parties from tracking information about users who choose to participate in such a program.” The list of witnesses at the hearing has not been released yet.

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about cyberbullying, annoying Facebook photos, and why blurring out yone’s home on Street View is no deterrent from anti-privacy vandals.

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Yelp Introduces Local Check-In Deals  

Following the lead of Facebook and Foursquare, Yelp has finally introduced special check-in offers for users who check in to a business via Yelp on their mobile device. Curently, the service only works on the Yelp app for Android-powered phones. The enhancement should be available on the iPhone and other smart phons shortly.

Facebook Photos That Make You Look Like a Tool  

In their latest snark-filled social media article for CNN, Brenna Ehrlich and Andrea Bartz talk about five different kinds of Facebook photos that make people look like “tools.” Ehrlich and Bartz’s article ranges from the obvious (obnoxious party photos) to the less than obvious (replacing yourself with a photo of your dog). For less sarcastic Facebook photo advice, check out this article from the Reputation.com Resource Center.  

Anti-Facebook Social Network Diaspora Goes Live  

Diaspora, the privacy-focused social networking website that many in the tech media called the anti-Facebook, has recently launched to a small number of users. Diaspora’s founders say they hope to expand to more users soon now that the site’s basic features are functioning and they can “double down on making the code more concise and straightforward.”

Germans Who Opted Out of Street View Have Homes Pelted with Eggs

Before launching its Street View service in Germany, Google gave German citizens the opportunity to opt out of the feature and have their home or business digitally blurred out online. Unfortunately, if yours is the only house on a block that’s blurred out, it’s still fairly easy for someone to find you, which is exactly what a group of Google-loving vandals did when they threw eggs at the homes of individuls who opted out of Street View. In addition to throwing eggs, the vandals left signs that said “Google’s cool” on the doors of the houses. Predictably, Google distanced itself from the attacks.

Canadian Mom Fed Up With Extreme Cyberbullying

In an engaging article for the Winnipeg Free Press, one mother details how her daughter has become the victim of a prolonged anonymous cyberbullying attack. The article discusses the bullying, which includes harassment, defamation, and personal data theft, as well as the family’s attempts to end the abuse. For those unfamiliar with the concept of cyberbullying, this article paints a clear picture of a fast-growing problem among today’s youth.

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about malware and Facebook and ponder Federal privacy regulations with two leading privacy advocacy groups.

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Study Shows One-Fifth of Facebook Users Exposed to Malware

A new study from the Internet security company BitDefender reveals that 20% of Facebook users are exposed to malware via their news feed. The malicious links typically originate from a friend’s infected profile, before then spreading to the news feed where they are clicked on and spread again. Another intriguing statistic from the report is that “over 60 percent of attacks come from notifications from malicious third-party applications on Facebook’s developer platform,” demonstrating once again that third-party applications are the weakest part of Facebook’s security.

Sarah Palin Dominates Google Search Traffic Among Leading Republican Contenders for the White House

If former Alaska governor and current reality TV star Sarah Palin decides to run for the presidency in 2012, at least one piece of current data suggests she would beat out her Republican rivals: her Google results. This article from the New York Times discusses how Palin dominates her likely Republican opponents in Google searches, which is a limited, but telling glimpse into how Palin is viewed by the general public. As Reputation.com explored in our DigitalDecision 2010 campaign for the Huffington Post, how a politician appears online is an important part of his or her campaign. If Governor Palin can translate her Google popularity into actual votes, the thought of electing a “Mama Grizzly” president does not seem that far off.

World Privacy Forum Thinks FTC Should Take Lead on Privacy Issues, Not Commerce

Could the commerce department’s pro-business agenda prevent it from properly tackling consumer privacy issues? Leaders at the World Privacy Forum and other privacy groups seem to think so. According to MediaPost, “The World Privacy Forum says that one of the agencies about to issue a report, the Department of Commerce, shouldn’t play a leadership role in shaping online privacy policy because that agency is seen as pro-business. Instead, the World Privacy Forum (and some other advocates) argue that the Federal Trade Commission should take the lead on Internet privacy.” It seems like everyone has a say in the Internet privacy debate, from the FCC to the White House, making it hard for political analysts to predict how pending and future legislation on privacy issues will shake out in Congress.

Future of Privacy Forum: We Need a Privacy Leader

In a response to Gordon Crovitz’s negative opinion piece about a so-called “Privacy Czar,” Christopher Wolf and Jules Polonetsky of the Future of Privacy Forum wrote that the United States needs an official to lead the country on privacy issues so that we can participate knowledgeably in the international community. Wolf and Polonetsky point out the admirable steps that the government has taken so far, but still suggest a “point person” on privacy and also argue for “baseline privacy protections.”

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about “growing up digital,” Facebook’s incredible Web dominance, and whether a privacy lawsuit against Google has any merit.

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New York Times: Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction

Over the weekend, the New York Times had an interesting feature on how growing up in the digital age is changing children’s behavior patterns. The article focuses on students from Woodside High School (just down the street from Reputation.com HQ) and discusses how many teens use the Internet and other high-tech communications tools to enhance their lives, while also distracting them from important responsibilities.

Facebook Traffic Up 60%, Making Up 25% of Page Views in the U.S.

According to an Experian Hitwise report, between November 2009 and November 2010, Facebook traffic increased 60%. Last week, Facebook accounted for 24.27% of the market share of page views on the Internet. In addition to page views, Facebook also demonstrated its superiority in overall visits, accounting for over 10% of all visits on the Web. Those are some amazing statistics that demonstrate how much power Facebook holds over the Web.

World Wide Web Founder Tim Berners-Lee Criticizes Facebook and Other Social Networking Websites

Tim Berners-Lee, the man widely credited with developing the modern World Wide Web, recently criticized Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking websites for distorting the founding principles of the Web. Berners-Lee believes that websites that trap personal data are fragmenting the Web. In a Scientific America article, he writes, “The more you enter, the more you become locked in. Your social networking site becomes a central platform – a closed silo of content, and one that does not give you full control over your information in it.” Berners-Lee is correct in his assessment, however he is unlikely to see a change anytime soon. On the modern Web, he who has the most data has the best advertisers and the most money.

School Board Politics Play Out on Facebook

In suburban Chicago, a game of school board politics is playing out on the public forum of Facebook. According to an article in the Herald News, “Plainfield school board President Stuart Bledsoe has told the teachers’ union to KMA — (Kiss My A**) — on his Facebook page after hearing that union members have allegedly campaigned against him during their meetings at the schools.” The comment drew the attention of the teacher’s union, who criticized Bledsoe for talking out of school (pun intended) and bringing up politics on a public forum. While this story is entirely local, the issue of making private issues public strikes at the heart of online reputation management. Because of his comments, what might have been a non-story now has news coverage, causing problems for both parties.

Better Advertising Project Wins Private Equity Funding

The Better Advertising Project, a start-up focused on providing self-regulatory privacy solutions for Internet advertisers, recently closed a $9.5 million round of investing from the private equity firm Warburg Pincus. As Congress, the FTC, and the FCC weigh Internet advertising regulations, Internet companies are pushing for self-regulatory solutions. As Peter Kafka puts it, if the latter group wins out, companies like the Better Advertising Project will be in a good position to provide a Web equivalent to the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.”

Google Sued for Scanning Gmail Content for Ads

According to Information Week, “Attorneys representing Texas resident Keith Dunbar on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Google alleging that Gmail violates the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986.” The lawsuit revolves around the way Google serves ads to Gmail users based on the content of their email messages. Internet law expert Eric Goldman of the Santa Clara University School of Law referred to the case as an “are-you-kidding-me? lawsuit” and said that this issue was debated extensively when Gmail launched in 2004, and Google has all of its legal bases covered.