Entries from February 2011 ↓
February 14th, 2011 | Legal Issues, Online Reputation Management, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
Happy Valentine’s Day! In today’s Quick Hits, we don’t have any particularly romantic news, but we do have some reactions to Rep. Jackie Speier’s recently proposed “Do Not Track” privacy legislation. Check them out (alongside other privacy and reputation news) below.
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In an interesting report for ABC 15 in Arizona, one woman learned how easy it was for strangers to find information about her and her family online. Armed with the woman’s name, maiden name, and e-mail address, a high school junior was able to find significant amounts of information about the woman using only the Internet. A trained private investigator was able to find even more information, including important financial documents. The report is a good reminder of just how much data is out there on the Web, and that individuals should take proactive measures to protect their personal data online.
On Friday, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) sponsored an Internet privacy bill making unwanted online tracking a punishable offense. The “Do Not Track” bill is the first of its kind, and would significantly change the way businesses track and collect information about individuals. In this report, the Los Angeles Times discusses the legislation and offers a quote from privacy advocate and academic Ryan Calo, who says, “It really is a strong pro-consumer bill.”
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal also published an article discussing Rep. Speier’s “Do Not Track” legislation. The Wall Street Journal article talks about the various measures that Internet browser developers have taken to make “Do Not Track” a possibility. It also touches on some of the previous attempts at privacy legislation, as well as other possible privacy bills that may be coming in 2011.
In our last bit of relevant “Do Not Track” news, Information Week put up an article today discussing the legislation, citing a recent Consumer Watchdog poll that showed strong support for a privacy law. According to the Consumer Watchdog poll, 90% of respondents were in favor of creating more laws to protect the privacy of their personal information online.
Is it ever okay to laugh at someone’s misfortune? On the Internet, you might assume the answer is yes. Consider some of the most popular viral memes in Internet history. From the Star Wars kid to the “Grape Lady,” most of the biggest viral videos on the Internet involve someone in pain or being severely embarrassed. But what about the people in the videos? Isn’t it a moral quandary to laugh when someone is suffering?
This article from the IndyStar discusses a recent video that is gaining viral steam. It shows a newscaster stumbling over her word as she appears to be having some kind of mental breakdown (or even stroke). At first, the author, Channing King, writes that his instinct was to laugh. But, the more he thought about the video, he realized laughing would be wrong, especially if the woman was severely injured. Realistically, though, how many people would think this through the same way King did? One percent? Less?
February 11th, 2011 | Facebook, Legal Issues, Online Reputation Management, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about bold new Internet privacy legislation and why you should be careful about opening virtual Valentine’s Day presents on Facebook.
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One South Carolina lawmaker is taking action to prevent prisoners from taunting their victims or continuing to organize criminal activities via Facebook. According to Reuters, “Representative Wendell Gilliard, a Democrat from Charleston, has introduced a bill that would make it unlawful for an inmate to be a member of any internet social-networking site, and would provide a penalty on conviction for the offense.” The penalty would be “30 extra days behind bars and a $500 fine” for each offense.
Four players on the high school girls hockey team in Stillwater, Minnesota were suspended for a game after posting a photo on Facebook of a stuffed bear, wearing the No. 34, hanging from a noose with the caption “Another successful bear hunt.” During a recent game against White Bear Lake, a player wearing the number 34 suffered a knee injury. While this is a uniquely local story, it demonstrates an interesting reality of the Internet age. In the past, if this picture were on a polaroid, perhaps the girls would have gotten away with a warning about bad sportsmanship. By posting it on Facebook, however, they endangered the reputation of the whole team and their school.
A report from the Sophos Naked Security blog details how cybercriminals are using Valentine’s Day as a way to trick users into onnline scams on Facebook and other social networking websites. According to Graham Cluley, “Facebook users are being tricked into clicking on messages that they believe their online friends have posted, saying who their Valentine will be in 2011 or how to put a heart or love poem on their sweetheart’s wall.” If you receive a Valentine’s Day greeting on your Facebook profile this year, be careful about clicking any suspicious looking links and be on high alert when installing applications.
The California State Supreme Court has ruled that under a state consumer privacy law, California retailers may not ask patrons for their Zip Codes when they choose to pay by credit card. The case is significant because it may be the first time a court has declared a Zip Code to be personally identifiable information, which may affect how the Internet tracking debate unfolds.
Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and a noted expert in online privacy issues, explained why the ruling was an important victory for privacy rights, saying, “The court recognized the realities of databases today. Bits and pieces of personal information that when they stand alone may not have much meaning when combined can realize a lot about an individual.”
A press release from Consumer Watchdog talks about new “landmark” privacy legislation from Representative Jackie Speier. Quoting the press release, “‘Do Not Track Me’ legislation introduced in Congress today by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-CA, will let consumers block unwanted tracking of their information online…The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to enact and enforce regulations that would give consumers a right to block companies from tracking their activities as they use the Internet.” The press release cites multiple surveys indicating a growing desire for privacy protections, including a recent USA Today/Gallup survey on the subject.
February 10th, 2011 | Facebook, Google, Internet Safety, Online Reputation Management, Privacy, Quick Hits, Twitter | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, in addition to our usual news on Internet privacy and security, we have some helpful information about online dating (specifically, lessons on what not to do courtesy of newly resigned New York Congressman Chris Lee).
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In an effort to fend off hackers, Google has begun offering a powerful new security feature for users known as “two-factor authentication.” According to Wired, the option “will require [users] to type in a special, short-lived second password in addition to their normal password to get into their account. Users will be able to get the codes via SMS or a phone call, or use smart phone apps for Android, iPhone and Blackberry to generate the codes.” Unfortunately, this secondary security feature requires enough effort that most Google users will ignore it, but it is a powerful upgrade for security-conscious users.
As many of you already know or have read, New York congressman Chris Lee hastily resigned from office yesterday in the wake of a scandal where he sent shirtless pictures of himself to a woman over Craigslist. The blunder by Congressman Lee has already attracted significant attention across the Web, including at Forbes, where privacy blogger Kashmir Hill has laid out six things that Lee did wrong in his search for an online hook-up.
One of the things that tripped up Congressman Lee was that the photo he shared online also contained a significant amount of geo-cached data, which gave websites further confirmation that Lee was the man in the picture. In a special feature for the Gawker media website Lifehacker, Whitson Gordon explains how to remove GPS info and other data from your online pictures.
Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal speculate that Twitter is in low-level talks with Google and Facebook over a possible acquisition. GigaOm’s Matthew Ingram reports on the rumors, and makes an impassioned plea for Twitter to remain neutral so as to remain “totally, 100-percent focused on being a real-time communications network.”
An article in the Time Magazine Healthland blog discusses a new study from the University of Virginia that reveals why people are more apt to show attraction toward an individual that has ignored them online than someone that has indicated an attraction. In psychology, connecting with someone who also likes you is called the “reciprocity principle.” What the study showed is that, in most cases, uncertainty actually trumps reciprocity as a marker of interest.
February 9th, 2011 | Facebook, Google, Online Reputation Management, Social Networking | Rob Frappier
Throughout the world this week, people are celebrating Social Media Week, a biannual global conference focused on social media technology and related issues.
Yesterday, we shared some advice on child safety and digital parenting for Safer Internet Day. Today, in honor of Social Media Week, we’re going to share some advice and insight into online reputation management and the important role that social media plays in helping professionals protect their good names online.
In the age of Google, where all it takes is a two-second search to learn pretty much anything about anyone, it’s never been more important to control your online reputation. The following five articles offer concrete steps that you can take to improve your search engine reputation using social media tools.
Three Must-Have Social Networking Sites for Online Reputation Management – This article highlights three social media websites that are an important part of building a positive online reputation.
How To Make Your Facebook Profile a Professional Networking Tool – Advice on how to use Facebook as a personal branding and professional networking tool.
How To Make Your LinkedIn Profile and Online Reputation Management Tool – Advice on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that it ranks highly in Google searches and how to use LinkedIn for professional networking.
Savvy Social Networking in a Busy, Competitive World – General advice on what you should (and what you shouldn’t) do on social networking websites to keep your online reputation looking good.
How To Develop a Social Media Policy and Protect Your Company’s Reputation- For business owners, we offer some advice on developing a social media policy that your employees can understand and that will protect your company’s reputation online.
For more information about Social Media Week, follow the official Social Media Week Twitter account. For more information on online reputation management, follow Reputation.com on Twitter.
February 9th, 2011 | Facebook, Internet Safety, Online Reputation Management, Parenting, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, First Lady Michelle Obama sounds off about why she thinks kids shouldn’t be on Facebook, and we talk about preparing for “digital death.”
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This morning, the LA Times held a live chat about social media and the work place. The chat touched on many important issues related to online reputation management including what is and is not okay to share online, and whether you should accept friend requests from co-workers and managers. Check out the transcript.
While talking with Matt Lauer, First Lady Michelle Obama explained that her daughters Sasha and Malia don’t use Facebook because of Secret Service security regulations. However, even if those regulations weren’t in place, First Lady Obama said she wouldn’t want the girls on Facebook. At their age, Obama said, spending time on the social networking site is just “not something they need.”
If you have a robust social media presence, what happens to it when you die? That’s the question posed in this news article, and one for which a whole cottage industry of experts has popped up to answer. Quoting Jeremy Toeman, the CEO and founder of San Francisco-based Legacy Locker, the article describes how Facebook memorials have become a popular means for carrying on a person’s legacy after their death, but how some people are interested in taking the extra step to shut down all of their social media profiles by using his service.
According to a report in the National Journal, “House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton said Tuesday that he is keeping an open mind as to whether Congress needs to pass legislation to enhance consumer privacy online.” Several different lawmakers have brought privacy legislation to the table in recent months, including Democrat Bobby Rush.
