In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about allegations that Facebook is creating “shadow profiles,” a New Jersey politician’s ill-advised tweets, a new survey on cyberbullying, and a look at TrueRep from Intelius.

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Irish Data Protection Commissioner Claims Facebook Creating “Shadow Profiles”

According to Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner, Facebook “is now building profiles of non-users who haven’t even signed up.” The claim, which Facebook categorically denied, is the latest problem for Facebook in Europe, where privacy laws are much stronger. According to Fox News, the Data Protection Commissioner “will be commencing a comprehensive audit of Facebook Ireland before the end of the month.”

New Jersey Senate Candidate Apologizes for Sexist Twitter Update

A New Jersey Senate Candidate has apologized for a sexist Twitter update directed at women saying, “Women, you increase your odds of keeping your men by being faithful, a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom.” The adage, which was paraphrased from a famous quote by Mick Jagger’s ex-wife, was labeled offensive by both political parties.

Survey Shows Parents and Students Want Action on Bullying

According to a new report from the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, more than three-quarters of students want schools to be involved in bullying prevention. The report also reveals that 84% of parents think schools should step in in the case of cyberbullying. This report reflects a growing awareness of bullying issues among students and parents.

Dan Tynan Reviews TrueRep

In an article for IT World, Dan Tynan writes about TrueRep, the new reputation management service from people-search and online background check company Intelius. Tynan’s review isn’t flattering: “Say you have a fresh water well on your land. The water is all the data available about you in the public record. Though the water is technically yours, other people can also drink from the well, and you still have to pump it out yourself when you get thirsty. Companies like Intelius take the water, bottle it, and sell it back to you at a profit.  And that’s what TrueRep is: your own water in a fancy plastic bottle.”

In today’s Quick Hits, some school teachers get in trouble for making fun of students online, the USPS is criticized over privacy issues, a mom wonders when bullying is really bullying, and the FBI makes an arrest in the case of the Hollywood hacker.

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School Apologizes Over Teacher Facebook Post Calling Students “Inbred”

A school in the U.K. was forced to offer an embarrassing apology to parents when several of its teachers were discovered referring to students as inbred during an online chat on Facebook. This isn’t the first time a school has faced criticism for its teachers remarks. Earlier this year, a first-grade teacher in New Jersey was suspended for calling students “future criminals.”

USPS Welcome Kit Raises Privacy Concerns

For years, the cash-strapped United States Postal Service has earned money by sending ads to individuals as part of its change of address welcome kit, but privacy advocates argue that the arrangement may be in violation of federal privacy laws. According to the Washington Times, “While these welcome kits may provide a targeted marketing opportunity for advertisers and much-needed revenue for the USPS, federal agencies aren’t allowed to sell or rent personal information such as names and addresses under the federal Privacy Act.” The USPS has defended the partnership and claims that it’s doing nothing illegal.

The Difficulty of Identifying Bullying

In this article for TIME, Bonnie Rochman talks about bullying and why it can be hard for parents to identify if their child is being bullied or is a bully themselves due to changing definitions of the act. Rochman also discusses research into anti-bullying techniques and how children naturally form antipathetic relationships with some of their peers.

Man Arrested for Scarlett Johansson Nude Photo Leak and Other Hollywood Hacks

A Florida man has been arrested for hacking into the e-mail, cell phones, and social media accounts of Scarlett Johansson and other notable celebrities. According to the AP report, “the FBI announced that it had made an out-of-state arrest Wednesday morning in a year-long investigation of celebrity hacking that was dubbed Operation Hackerazzi.”

In today’s Quick Hits, Facebook is hit with a lawsuit, Google adds some privacy features to Google+, and Barnes & Noble tries to swoop in on Borders’ customer base.

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Kansas Man Seeks Class-Action Lawsuit Against Facebook Over Tracking Cookies

A Kansas man recently filed a lawsuit against Facebook alleging that the company violated federal wiretap laws by tracking browsing data on users after they logged off the service. As ABC News explains, however, the litigation may be unsuccessful because it is difficult to prove harm in these kinds of cases. Quoting the article, “Experts say the Kansas litigation faces an uphill battle since courts in the past have tossed out similar cases against Facebook and others filed under wiretap law, finding such computer cookies are not wiretaps. In those cases that do end up being litigated the plaintiffs typically lose because they cannot prove any harm.”

There is a movement among some privacy activists to reframe what constitutes “privacy harm” in a legal sense. Stanford’s Ryan Calo has been a leading voice in the debate over the meaning of privacy harm and was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal on the subject last year.

Dad “Stalks” Journalist Daughter on Twitter

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about Facebook and Spotify’s close partnership, how one mom’s Facebook update ruined her sons’ football season, and the epidemic problem of cyberbullying.

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Spotify Users Angry Over Forced Facebook Integration

Spotify, once the envy of all music sharing sites for its positive press coverage and close partnership with Facebook, is on the defensive after making a change that requires users to log-in to the service using Facebook. People don’t necessarily want to share what they’re listening to on Spotify, which is what they’d have to do thanks to Facebook’s new “frictionless sharing” experience. Since the announcement, Spotify founder Daniel Ek has spent much time on Twitter defending the decision, but also acknowledging the potential for further changes based on feedback.

Maintaining Privacy on “Free” Facebook

In an op-ed for Fox News, John Quain criticizes Facebook’s recent “convoluted, confused, and cluttered update,” writing that, while Facebook is a free service, it actually requires users to give up information about themselves to make money. Quain also points out that quitting Facebook offers no guarantee of privacy.

“The problem is that even if you abandon Facebook, others could be tagging you in photos, putting personal information about you online, and sharing it all with their 500 closest friends. Potential employers — and dates — can then use that information against you without your knowledge. One example: I’ve been tagged in photos on Facebook that I can’t delete or edit, even though at least one photo isn’t even of me (now people think I was at an event I didn’t attend).”

Facebook Defends Tracking Data From Logged-Out Users

Recently, Australian tech developer Nik Cubrilovic discovered that Facebook was tracking data about users after they had logged out of the site. According to the Wall Street Journal, “When you log in to Facebook or visit Facebook.com without logging in, the site places small files called ‘cookies’ on your computer. Some of these cookies remain on your computer even after you log out, and then whenever you visit a site that connects to Facebook – such as those with a ‘Like’ button – information from those cookies is sent back to Facebook, providing a record of where you’ve been on the Web.” The ubiquity of the “like” button on the Web means that Facebook is able to collect a considerable amount of data from users even while they’re not on the site.

Mom’s Facebook Update Costs Her Sons’ Football Team Three Wins

In an unusual story, a Tennessee mom is the center of a high school sports controversy after a Facebook update about her sons led to the revelation of the boys’ ineligibility to play and the team’s subsequent forfeiture of three wins. According to The Tennessean, the mom made a comment about how her sons leave messy rooms after only being in town for the weekend. The problem is that the mom lives in a different county. According to the TSSAA’s bylines, the boys weren’t allowed eligibility because the family continued “to maintain a previous residence for the residential purposes of that family or any of its members.”

Poll Shows Over Half of Teens the Victim of Online Bullies

According to a new MTV-AP poll, 56% of teens have been the victim of some form of online bullying or harassment. Three-quarters of respondents also said that online bullying was a serious problem, demonstrating a high level of awareness about the issue. This article from the Boston Globe discusses the poll and shares some examples of online bullying.

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about a new bullying prevention campaign, an interesting poll about teen attitudes online, a smart privacy change from Foursquare, and the hidden privacy risks of popular technology.

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Facebook and Time Warner Launch Anti-Bullying App

Yesterday, Facebook and Time Warner launched an anti-bullying app called “Stop Bullying: Speak Up.” According to ABC News, the app “offers resources on prevention, and asks children and adults to take an online pledge to speak up if they see bullying.” Cyberbullying is a major concern for children and teens online, and has been cited as a factor in a number of high-profile teen suicides. Facebook’s position as the hub of social life for many teens makes it important for the company to spend time on anti-bullying measures.

Poll Shows Young People Don’t Care About Online Slurs

According to a new Associated Press-MTV poll surveying 14 to 24-year-olds, 71% of respondents said they are more likely “to use slurs online or in text messages than in person” and that “only about half say they are likely to ask someone using such language online to stop.” This apparent disregard has led some experts to worry that young people are becoming desensitized to abusive language and are risking their reputations by using the language online.

Foursquare Makes Privacy Change to Hide Home Addresses

Foursquare recently enacted a new privacy change that allows users to check-in to their homes on the service without exposing their exact location. According to Mashable, “applying the ‘Home’ category will keep the actual address of the venue private to just the user and his or her friends, as well as allow the user to edit the venue or delete it altogether.” This step, while long overdue, is logical and may help bring in more privacy-conscious users to the check-in service.

Can You Use Technology and Protect Your Privacy?

In a comprehensive piece for The Today Show website, Christina DesMarais talks about the privacy concerns associated with a number of popular technologies. Listing everything from cell phones to fax machines, DesMarais explains how modern technology can put your privacy at risk and the steps you should take to help mitigate the amount of information about you online.

In today’s Quick Hits, an A-List starlet becomes the victim of an embarrassing cell phone hack, an Internet troll is given a jail sentence for mocking dead teens online, and FOSI has some uplifting information on teens and online safety.

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Scarlett Johansson Working with FBI After Nude Cellphone Photos Leaked Online

TMZ reports that A-List actress Scarlett Johansson is seeking assistance from the FBI to help track down the individual responsible for hacking into her cell phone and posting self-taken nude photos online. Johansson isn’t the first celebrity to have nude photos wind up online. Actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Jessica Alba also have been the victims of hackers seeking out illicit images.

Family Online Safety Institute Survey Shows 96% of Parents Talk to Kids About Online Safety

A new survey from the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found that 96% of parents have had a conversation with their kids about what they should and should not do online. The survey also revealed that 93% of parents set rules about Internet use. These findings suggest that more parents are becoming aware of the importance of online safety issues and taking smart, proactive steps to protect their kids online.

Facebook Representatives Gear Up for Congressional Hearing

Facebook representatives are scheduled to appear before a congressional hearing today on the subject of children’s online safety. According to CBS News, “The appearance by Facebook officials follows one last week by Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, who also met with members of Congress about privacy issues.” At issue is how websites track information about Internet users while they browse the Web. Several members of Congress believe that there should be laws in place to prevent Web companies from collecting data on children. Web companies have disagreed with this stance, arguing that legislation will be too unwieldy.

Facebook Introduces Smart Lists Privacy Feature

Yesterday, Facebook announced a new privacy feature that is similar in function to Google+’s “Social Circles” feature. According to the Washington Post, “the optional features include smart lists, which automatically group a users’ friends into work, school, family and location-based groups, which can be edited by the user.” Facebook’s recent push to offer more privacy controls comes on the heels of Google’s launch of Google+, which was widely praised for its intuitive privacy settings.

25-Year-Old Internet Troll Jailed for Mocking Dead Teens Online

In the U.K., a 25-year-old man has been jailed for 18 weeks after he was arrested for sending mocking messages to the families of two dead teenagers online. The man, who did not know the victims and lived alone, pleaded guilty to two counts of sending malicious communications. In his ruling, the judge stated that the offenses were so serious that “only a custodial sentence could be justified.” As part of the sentence, the man must also refrain from using social networking websites for five years and inform police when he acquires a new computer or web-enabled phone.

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about a new anti-bullying campaign, why celebrities should change their online passwords, the fine line politicians walk on Twitter, and how healthcare professionals are usually responsible for health information breaches.

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Teen Singer Cody Simpson Leads Anti-Bullying Initiative

Popular teen singer Cody Simpson is putting his influence and massive online following to good use as the leader of a new anti-bullying initiative called Defeat the Label. Simpson joins numerous other celebrities in the campaign, which seeks to put a stop to bullying among kids and teens. Bullying, particularly online bullying, has become a severe problem for the nation’s youth, represented tragically by the high-profile suicides of numerous teens such as Phoebe Prince.

Anonymous Splinter Group Attacking Celebrities

A spin-off group of the hacker collective Anonymous has its sights set on Hollywood and has already scored some high-profile hacks. According to PCWorld, the group has posted celebrity phone numbers, a film script for a movie currently in production, and even nude photos of the female rapper Kreayshawn. The group’s motives don’t seem to extend much beyond a desire to embarrass celebrities and bask in the subsequent media attention.

Politician Apologizes After Calling Constituent Idiot

A UK politician has apologized after calling a constituent the “village idiot” on Twitter following a debate about the National Health Service (NHS). The incident demonstrates the fine line public figures, particularly politicians, walk between engaging in discourse online and saying something that can damage their online reputations.

Insiders Responsible for Growing Number of Patient Privacy Breaches

According to the 2011 Survey of Patient Privacy Breaches from Veriphyr, “more than 70 percent of organizations surveyed were targets of one or more breaches of PHI within the last 12 months. And, insiders were responsible for the majority of breaches, with 35 percent taking an unauthorized look at medical data of fellow employees and 27 percent peeking at records of friends and relatives.”

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about “Cyber Shame,” one photographer’s stand against cyberbullying, and the White House’s consumer privacy protection plans.

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Over a Third of Young People Experience “Cyber Shame” from Social Media

“More than a third of young people admit to feeling ‘cyber shame’ after posting embarrassing photos or posts online while drunk” according to a survey commissioned by the alcohol education charity Drinkaware. In addition to the physical dangers of excessive drinking, Chris Sorek, CEO of Drinkaware, notes that there are also reputation consequences to posting drunk photos online. Sorek explains that living in the digital world “means that people who have been drinking to excess can have their actions come back to haunt them online,” particularly when it comes to getting a new job and other important life transactions.

Photographer’s Refusal to Serve “Ugly” People Wins Support from Anti-Bullying Advocates

A Pennsylvania photographer has become an unlikely spokesperson in the country’s growing crusade against bullying after she refused to photograph several high school girls whom she observed on a Facebook page bullying other students. In a note on Facebook, Jennifer McKendrick wrote that she didn’t want to make people who were ugly on the inside look beautiful on the outside. Since making her stand, McKendrick has received broad support from anti-bullying advocates across the country.

Consumers Turn to Twitter to Complain About Businesses

The Sydney Morning Herald writes, “consumers are increasingly turning to Twitter and Facebook to vent their frustrations at having their complaints ignored as online activism becomes a powerful tool forcing businesses to fix unresolved issues.” Citing several examples where online activism has forced company’s to change their operating procedures, the Herald article highlights an important new reality for businesses of all sizes. In a world where customers can talk directly to brands, it’s important that brands listen and talk back.

Criticism of Google+ Real Name Policy

In an article for InformationWeek, Thomas Claburn argues that Google’s real name policy for its new social network Google+ is a mistake, offering five reasons why it hurts users. Claburn’s argument echos other complaints from tech writers who view Google’s name policy as a mistake and argue that it stifles open discourse online.

White House Pushes Consumer Privacy Protection Plan

Danny Weitzner, associate administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently outlined the White House’s plans for improving consumer privacy without stifling innovation in the economy. During comments at a Technology Policy Institute conference, Weitzner said, “You can have stronger privacy law, clearer rules, clearer principles established in law, without the costs and downsides of a traditional regulatory structure.” How privacy rules would be regulated without a traditional regulatory structure remains to be seen, but the notion of a broad “Privacy Bill of Rights” still seems to be popular in Washington, D.C.

In today’s Quick Hits, we share three disturbing tales of cyberstalking and online harassment, as well as some more coverage of the social media background check company Social Intelligence.

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California Man Set for Sentencing in Cyberstalking Case

Quoting the AP, “a 23-year-old man who trolled women’s Facebook pages searching for clues that allowed him to take over their email accounts and then made nude pictures of them public is expected to be sentenced in Sacramento.” The man, who has already pled guilty, could face as much as six years in prison for his actions. His defense attorneys are arguing that he didn’t fully understand the ramifications of his actions and should get probation instead.

Florida Man Breaks Into 500 Women’s E-Mails, Posts Nude Photos Online

A Florida man is currently on trial for breaking into the e-mail accounts of 500 different women, and then posting nude photos of at least 19 of them to Facebook and multiple pornographic websites. The hacker has reached a plea deal, but may still face significant jail time. Each of the charges he faces carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison

Man Arrested for Posting Fake Nude Photo of Ex-Girlfriend Online

Proving that gross privacy violations don’t only happen in America, a man in South Africa has been arrested for posting fake nude photos of his ex-grilfriend on Facebook. The man used naked pictures of another woman and superimposed his ex-girlfriend’s face onto them. He also posted the images to a real estate listing website, where his ex-girlfriend, who is a real estate agent, advertised her homes.

Web Agency Tracks Job Applicants’ Online Slips

The Sydney Morning Herald today republished an article from the New York Times on the new social media background check company Social Intelligence. The article talks about how Social Intelligence works, the kinds of negative online content that could keep an individual from getting a job, and includes insight on the privacy ramifications of the service from Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about Google+ privacy settings, share a case of cyberbullying, and ponder the role that Facebook plays in divorce.

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Google+ Updates Privacy Settings

Google’s new social networking project, Google+, is still in beta mode, but it’s growing fast. And along with the site’s growth have come expectations for simple privacy controls. Yesterday, in response to user concerns, Google implemented more comprehensive privacy controls for all Google+ users. The controls, which are still somewhat difficult to use, allow users to conceal their profile so that only their name and picture are visible. This article from ComputerWorld discusses how to use the new privacy controls.

12-Year-Old Given Probation for Facebook Bullying

In a case that shows the consequences of cyberbullying for both bullies and victims, a 12-year-old Washington girl has been given probation for cyberstalking, following an incident in which she accessed a classmate’s Facebook account and posted sexually explicit images and language to the victim’s page. According to MSNBC, the bully “not only posted explicit photos, but sent out solicitations for sex,” and, despite the victim’s attempts to delete the inappropriate content, it has “been copied and reposted elsewhere and everywhere.”

How Facebook Contributes to Divorce

This article from research scientist Sheril Kirshenbaum discusses the ways in which Facebook and similar social networking technology has contributed to extra-marital affairs and divorce among the baby boomer generation. Describing how the sudden reappearance of a lost love via Facebook can trigger the release of certain brain chemicals, Kirshenbaum writes, “But now the ghosts of romance past are alive and well online, popping up on chat services and sending greetings on Facebook. In the 21st century, old friends are virtually at our fingertips, and a seemingly harmless email sent to someone with the innocent intention of ‘catching up’ can quickly go further.”

1 in 10 UK Pets Has Facebook

A true sign of the times, 1 in 10 household pets in the UK has a Facebook profile according to new research. The data, commissioned by (no joke) a pet insurance company, reveals not only the Brits’ fondness for animals, but also an extremely high level of awareness and comfort with social networking technology. If we’ve reached the point where we’re creating social networking profiles for our pets, we can surely say that social media is here to stay.

Child Identity Theft a Growing Trend

Child identity theft is on the rise, which is a major concern for regulators who hope to protect kids from long-lasting reputation and privacy damage. According to veteran consumer advocate and Reuters reporter Mitch Lipka, “a study found children’s identities are stolen at more than 50 times the rate of adults.” Because children don’t have credit, it is easy for thieves to rack up fraudulent activity without fear of it being discovered in a routine credit report. In order to help prevent child ID theft, parents should take proactive steps to limit where their child’s information appears online and also strictly limit who they provide it to you in personal transactions.