In our collective quest for advertising's conscience probably the most discussed, if not most important, debate playing out right now concerns online privacy.

Last week draft legislation was introduced on a bill that would enact some federal standards around online data collection.  The early reaction is that nobody likes it, which is probably a good thing. Marketing groups say it's restrictive and will hurt consumers, privacy groups see huge loopholes they say put no real restriction on what online marketers can harvest and disseminate.

This is a fascinatingly complex issue on a commercial, technical and moral basis with huge ramifications for the ad industry. But today I came across this super cool chart that puts part of the equation into clear graphic perspective. It shows how Facebook, if you use their default settings, has expanded access to your personal information over the last five years.

If you got to this article through my Facebook page, you really should have a look if, for no other reason, to better understand just what happens to the information you choose to share.

Now, of course, this opens up all kinds of questions, but the only one I'll pose here is this, Have you ever seen a Facebook ad that you really cared about? I mean, considering all the information I've divulged, you'd think they could figure out that I'm never going to drink Dunkin' Donuts coffee, vote for a state rep from Santa Rosa or refinance from a company that advertises on Facebook.