In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about the Commerce Department’s new privacy report, Facebook’s facial recognition technology, and the tech year in review.

–

Commerce Department Report Calls for “Privacy Bill of Rights” but Stops Short of Recommending Legislation

Weeks after the FTC made its recommendation for a “Do Not Track” system for consumers to opt out of Internet advertising, the Commerce Department has released a preliminary report calling for a “privacy bill of rights” and the creation of a privacy policy office that would coordinate U.S. privacy issues globally. The final report is expected next year and will include more legislative recommendations.

Facebook Facial Recognition Software Means Unsolicited Photo Tagging

If there’s an untagged photo of you on Facebook, don’t be surprised if you get a tag request in the coming weeks. According to Facebook’s blog, via the LA Times, “The software matches faces in newly posted photos to those in previously tagged pictures and suggests the names of friends pictured in the new photo.” You can stop your name from appearing in tag suggestions by disabling the suggested tag feature in your privacy settings. In your privacy settings, click “Customize Settings” and then deselect “Suggest photos of me to friends.”

How Politicians Use Facebook

The election season is over, but that doesn’t mean politicians have stopped using Facebook to connect with their constituents. This article from ABC News goes in depth into how several politicians use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media tools to connect with voters and get feedback on legislative decisions.

10 Reasons Why 24/7 Online Monitoring is a Good Thing

In another article for CNN’s “End of Privacy” series, John D. Sutter takes a look at 10 reasons why not having any privacy online might actually be a good thing. The value of Sutter’s 10 choices is debatable, but it’s an interesting perspective on an issue of growing importance.

CNET’s 2010 in Review

For its 2010 Year in Review article, CNET takes a look at the growth of Google and Facebook, along with several other notable tech companies throughout the year. The piece also examines the rise of location-based social networking services and touches on some privacy-related tech developments from the year.