In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about a new piece of privacy legislation, why cyberbullying is an international problem, and how Facebook is surging in display advertising.

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Facebook Claims 31.2% of U.S. Online Display Ad Views

As if there was ever any doubt that Facebook has become a powerhouse in online advertising, the San Jose Mercury News reports that Facebook received “nearly one-third of Internet display ad views during the first quarter of 2011.” Some industry experts see parallels between Facebook’s current growth and Google’s growth when Internet search was first taking off.

Online Bullying is a Global Issue

In this article for CNN International, Catherine E. Shoichet writes about how online bullying is a worldwide problem for teens and children. In her report, Shoichet discusses how France’s Education Minister has “announced plans to combat bullying by shutting down Facebook accounts of students who harass their classmates.” She also discusses how government officials are targeting bullying in other countries, including Mexico and Brazil.

Sen. Rockefeller Set to Introduce ‘Do Not Track’ Legislation

According to the Washington Post’s Cecilia Kang, “Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va) on Friday said he will introduce a “do not track” bill that would allow consumers to block Web sites and marketers from tracking their activity on the Internet.” The bill, which comes on the heels of the Sony PLaystation Network breach and concern over location data snooping by Apple and Google, is not tied to any other bill in Congress, including the McCain-Kerry Internet privacy bill. Kang also notes that there is another Do Not Track bill in Congress, sponsored by Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Joe Barton (R-Tex.), but that it is aimed for protecting children.

Privacy Commissioner Claims Canadians Don’t Know They’re Being Tracked

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart recently expressed concern that Canadian citizens are not well-informed about how they are being tracked online nor are they giving explicit consent, saying, “We have some serious concerns about online tracking, profiling and targeting – and the fact that many Canadians don’t know what’s happening behind their computer screens, let alone agree to it.” In a report, Stoddart’s office also calls attention to the growth of cloud computing, asking for strong protections for data stored in the cloud.

Apple VP Bud Tribble to Testify before Senate Committee

Following widespread reports that Apple and Google mobile devices are tracking user location data, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) has convened a Senate committee hearing to investigate claims of invasion of privacy. According to TUAW, tech executives from numerous major companies will be in attendance, including “Apple’s VP of software technology, Guy L. “Bud” Tribble,” as well as “Google’s VP of public policy.”