Gov't employer asks man for Facebook login during job interview

Gov't employer asks man for Facebook login during job interview

www.salon.com

When do background checks go too deep? When is a routine security measure a total invasion of privacy? When Facebook is involved, suggests the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU recently sent a letter to the Maryland Department of Corrections in reference to a blanket policy requiring applicants to submit social media log-ins and passwords for routine background checks, reports the Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal. The letter details the experience of Officer Robert Collins, a seven-year veteran of the department, who spoke out about the new policy after applying for a new position. In a s

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Remember when a congressman was outed recently because of what he posted on his Facebook page and had to resign? Clearly there is no privacy guarantee on Facebook -- anyone can have access to it. Still, I don't object to everything the government does, but in this case I think it's a bridge too far. Hope the ACLU wins the case for this man.

www.salon.com
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Its a Govt job, what do you expect?

And remember to switch your wifi off on your " I phone " as well ,
2ND line ATS aware....

reply to post by macman


I expect that if we allow this to continue we will be living in a world worse than Orwell or Huxley could imagine.

When did we turn into the "home of the fearful" instead of "home of the brave"?

Time to change our national anthem...
"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
to:
"O'er the land of the enslaved and home of the fearful!"

Originally posted by pianopraze
reply to post by macman

 

I expect that if we allow this to continue we will be living in a world worse than Orwell or Huxley could imagine.

When did we turn into the "home of the fearful" instead of "home of the brave"?

Time to change our national anthem...
"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
to:
"O'er the land of the enslaved and home of the fearful!"

Not really. It is a Govt job. They have their own requirements.
Easy to avoid, don't apply for a Govt job.
Done and done.

This is stupid, what about those of us that dont have a facebook account and never will?

Will we be excluded from the hiring process for not conforming to the new "social standards?"

Originally posted by Animatrix
This is stupid, what about those of us that dont have a facebook account and never will?

(Interviewer) No problem Animatrix, but to get this job you'll have to hand us over your AboveTopSecret password. You know, for security reasons.

I would first require the kissing of my ass before such a request could be fulfilled.

What all you DumbAss Facebook users need to realise is that if you put personal data and private feelings and beliefs on to the WWW via 'friendface' or facebook etc etc then sooner or later your Digital Life will live forever on the ether of the NET...

If you want privacy, don't broadcast your information...period..

Rant over and goodbye

PDUK

I have never ventured onto facebook and have no intention of ever doing so, but the problem that arose where I work was that people were posting things about colleagues, innocent enough...until it wasn't and then a complaint was made to a manager about what had been said. Even though an employer (unless contractually stipulated) is not allowed to dictate what an employee can or cannot say or do in their own time, the employer is still liable in the event of bullying, harassment or discrimination being conducted or even reported on facebook between employees outside of working hours because it is still related to their employment. Same as if you were to make nuisance phone calls to a colleague's home, it is still classed as your employer's responsibility to investigate it. Since 'not knowing' is not considered a good defence, it is likely that more employers will either prohibit use of facebook or more likely, monitor it as and when suspicion arises.

Also though, more government and public sector employers in the UK are now asking questions to screen for ideology, often at second interview stage, so perhaps facebook would allow them a fast track on that too.

Originally posted by macman
Not really. It is a Govt job. They have their own requirements.
Easy to avoid, don't apply for a Govt job.
Done and done.

If they are allowed to get away with this how long do you think it will be before other employers follow suit?

This must be stopped. The invasion of our privacy is getting out of hand.

This is going to far. All the information one needs about a potential job applicant can be obtained by former employers, police records, and references. What else do they think they need? A strand of hair, a retinal scan, a sample of blood, or better yet how about the keys to your house. People ought to start raising a stink about intrusive acts like this and other ones. It is high time to insure these Orwellian thugs remain honest, and recognize a person's right to privacy and livelihood. This is crap!

Seriously? The state of Maryland has a "policy" for this. Hand over your password or you don't get the job/work? It ought to be very funny watching them go to court over this one. Go ACLU!

I am going to quote a poster, but just to use it as a jump off.

When did we turn into the "home of the fearful" instead of "home of the brave"?

When did we become a nation who has to tell absolutely everything about ourselves to the entire world. When I am revealing my dirty laundry, and worse, being proud to do so, I can hardly turn around and ask for privacy.
We used to mind our own business and not share it with any but our families. We also did not seek to know the sexual habits of our public figures. We valued privacy and we respected the privacy of others. I am appalled at the revelations to be found on fb, myspace, etc. Bottom line, if you put it out there, you have no one to blame for the violation of your privacy but yourself. Imho

reply to post by pianopraze


I'm sorry but putting your info on Facebook is NOT a private affair......even if you do limited that data to your nearest '100' ? friends.....

Facebook is a fantastic example of the Herd mentality and basically stupidity of the highest order and I do not apologise for saying that .....

Regards

PDUK

reply to post by PurpleDog UK


Hold down the vim, you're preaching to he choir.

I do not have my private info on there. But I do begrudgingly have an account because it is how my family communicates. You can find out as much info about me on my facebook as you can here on ATS...

well... probly you could find out more info on me here on ATS actually

Exact same topic, thread started last evening.

Same topic

Originally posted by harrytuttle

Originally posted by Animatrix
This is stupid, what about those of us that dont have a facebook account and never will?

(Interviewer) No problem Animatrix, but to get this job you'll have to hand us over your AboveTopSecret password. You know, for security reasons.

Ahhh...the beauty of anonymity...your employer would have to violate your privacy, which is legally protected, in order to even know you have an ATS account, and then they have to prove that it is you...which they would need a search warrant for...no need to worry about ATS until you commit a crime that permits police to access your pc...unless you're accessing it at work and then they can look at what you've been doing anytime they like and probably even as you're doing it since Helpdesk will have remote access to your work pc...

reply to post by pianopraze


Ha Ha Ha

Your right actually about the info on ATS..........

I come across lots of the Avatars on other sites and forums with Names attached to them.....there are of course others searches that can be done to establish whom one is as well.......

I just have a personal issue with Friend Face because I just see evryone doing it because everyone else does.... and I am contrarian by nature........... I saw a report on the BBC today about the Ad men capitalising on the growing social networking industry............... It's just where the herd runs next that's all.....

www.bbc.co.uk...

Cheers
PDUK