Want A Job? Password, Please!

[demmiblue]

Source: ACLU


Maryland corrections officer Robert Collins approached the ACLU of Maryland late last year, disturbed that he was required to provide his Facebook login and password to the Maryland Division of Corrections (DOC) during a recertification interview. He had to sit there while the interviewer logged on to his account and read not only his postings, but those of his family and friends too.

"We live in a time when national security is the highest priority, but it must be delicately balanced with personal privacy," said Collins. "My fellow officers and I should not have to allow the government to view our personal Facebook posts and those of our friends, just to keep our jobs."

<snip>

On January 25, the ACLU of Maryland sent a letter (PDF) to Public Safety Secretary Gary Maynard on behalf of Officer Collins, concerning the Division of Correction's blanket requirement that applicants for employment with the division, as well as current employees undergoing recertification, provide the government with their social media account usernames and personal passwords for use in employee background checks.

It has been three weeks, and we have yet to hear a response. Does this mean that Secretary Maynard has no intention of changing this policy?


Read more: http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty/want-job-password-please

[ThomCat]

1. If you need any type of certification or clearance

which you voluntarily apply for, they can try to claim that you are voluntarily giving them access to all of your private information in order to get or keep the job.

Yes, oh so voluntarily.

[Lasher]

2. Once it's out there, it's out there.

This should never be a job requirement. Be that as it may, don't post anything you don't want the whole world to know.

[RKP5637]

3. That is relative to what is 'norm' at a particular point in time. What is acceptable

today might not be acceptable tomorrow and vice versa. It's probably best IMO to avoid all social networking. If I were young today and starting over, I would do my damnedest to be as independent as possible. I spent my life in corporate structures, I would never do that again. Years ago being in a corp. and similar were often teaming situations, today it is the converse.

[Lasher]

6. I have come to that conclusion.

But the decision to participate can be perplexing. With people who are dating, I'm told it's almost a necessity. The urge to sign up can be powerful, despite cautionary examples like this one.

[RKP5637]

10. Yep, and it's yet another example of the erosion of privacy. There should be laws

to protect the privacy of individuals, but these seem IMO woefully lacking in today's technological society. It's so unfortunate that good technology gets used for bad purposes. And without proper legislation the infractions IMO are going to get worse and worse.

[baldguy]

4. He should be grateful they asked him for the password

Instead of hacking into it without telling him.

I wonder what his union has to say about this?

[onehandle]

5. How long before a Facebook account is issued at birth?

Resist.

[BadgerKid]

13. Some parents do it willingly for their babies.

I know of three! :o

[onehandle]

15. Yep. And some are naming their babies based on online name availability.

Which will be a huge laugh when none of these social diseases... I mean, when none of these social communities exist by the time the kids are in nursery school.

[treestar]

7. Why are they interested in this crap?

Is there any actual justification for this?

[CreekDog]

8. Your friends have not authorized you to let your prospective employer see their posts or...

or other items they allow *you* to access.

you aren't being a very good friend if you allow a stranger to view them.

[KG]

9. which is why i have an FB alter-ego.

to post my radical stuff.

[underpants]

11. I cleaned up my Facebook when I was looking for a job

I got rid of the Monty Python "Anarcho-syndicalist" reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xd_zkMEgkI

[Horse with no Name]

12. My facebook is under my cat's name

For a very special reason.
Those that know me, know my cat.
Those that don't?
Well, I don't have a facebook!:)

[toddaa]

14. The simple remedy

http://www.wikihow.com/Permanently-Delete-a-Facebook-Account

[Initech]

17. Everytime I read crap like this, I'm heavily considering deleting my page.

Hell, watching "The Social Network" made me want to do it.

[MadHound]

16. And what happens when you say that you don't have a Facebook page?

Do you get your recertification, do your bosses believe you? Or do they think you're lying and deny you your recertification anyway?

I would be interested in knowing, since I don't do Facebook or other social media.

[ck4829]

18. K&R

[Exilednight]

19. Repubs are turning this into a nanny state. "We're checking your facebook for your own protection."

Isn't this the reason we have search warrants?

[jp11]

20. I put this under one of those things I don't comply with if I had a FB account.

It is no different in my mind than asking for the password to my email, message board, or other 'personal' accounts. I'd welcome the lawsuit if my employer demanded I comply or face termination or reprimand for not complying with what I consider an immoral/illegal request.