AfterDawn: Tech news

Facebook is against employers asking for login details

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Mar 2012 5:43 User comments (16)

Facebook is against employers asking for login details Following a recent report that employers are now asking for Facebook details for prospective employees, the social networking giant has responded.
Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan says: "If you are a Facebook user you should never have to share your password, let anyone access your account, or do anything that might jeopardize the security of your account or violate the privacy of your friends...As a user, you shouldn't be forced to share your private information and communications just to get a job."

Lawmakers and civil rights groups have been up in arms since the report was published, and with good reason.

Facebook also added: "If an employer sees on Facebook that someone is a member of a protected group [e.g., over a certain age, etc.], that employer may open themselves up to claims of discrimination if they don't hire that person."

A congressional bill blocking employers from seeing prospective employee's Facebook pages is in the works, as well.

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16 user comments

124.3.2012 18:23

some employers are so nosy and they do that just to discriminate not for company growth or for the security of the company or personnel.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 24 Mar 2012 @ 6:50

224.3.2012 19:04

To be honest employers should not be doing that.

When this came out I had a few people telling me they would walk out of the interview or start asking them for their password etc to facebook.

324.3.2012 20:24

"When this came out I had a few people telling me they would walk out of the interview or start asking them for their password etc to facebook."

That is exactly what you do. It should give you an indicator of what is in your future for the Corporation or low level job you will be in for if you are unlucky enough to be hired part time or a FTE.

Jeff

424.3.2012 21:32

Well. I just ignore them saying: I do not have a Facebook Account, that is just for kids or wherever.
I also ask them: Do I have to have a Facebook account in order to get a Job?

NOTE: For a stupid questions, stupid answers !

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 24 Mar 2012 @ 9:33

524.3.2012 22:41

Originally posted by Mrguss:
Well. I just ignore them saying: I do not have a Facebook Account, that is just for kids or wherever.
I also ask them: Do I have to have a Facebook account in order to get a Job?

NOTE: For a stupid questions, stupid answers !
I had a Facebook account until FB became a major supplier of personal information. As if there is not enough personal info in cyberspace. Call me paranoid but when it is encouraged that you share as much personal as possible like FB does... It's time to shut the doors on info whores.

People including my daughters share info that is nobodies business.

I Make contact the old fashion way. If I want to send pics or what not, I will do it directly.

Kids have no idea or don't care what personal info that is passed on. Really a shame because maybe not today but sometime in the future it may cause awful repercussions.

Jeff

625.3.2012 05:22

employers need to mind there own business.if they go to work,get there on time,do the job properly, once they leave work and take there work uniform off it should be none of the employers business what they do, online or offline.

725.3.2012 05:57

Originally posted by Mrguss:
Well. I just ignore them saying: I do not have a Facebook Account, that is just for kids or wherever.
I also ask them: Do I have to have a Facebook account in order to get a Job?!
That's probably the best response as tempting as it is to just walk out.

Originally posted by xboxdvl2:
employers need to mind there own business.if they go to work,get there on time,do the job properly, once they leave work and take there work uniform off it should be none of the employers business what they do, online or offline.
to play devil's advocate, but what if you're working in the public sector (e.g. police department), would it not be helpful to know if someone is engaging in illegal activities?
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 25 Mar 2012 @ 6:01

825.3.2012 09:07

Give my password to NO one!!

925.3.2012 11:06

I would never give out any information like that, at interviews I simply say I have Facebook feel free to search for me I never use it though. If they manage to find me that's fine, everything in my account is private. All they will see is the default profile picture along side my name. Its a simple, privacy is important don't give them your information.

1025.3.2012 13:11
SmaryJerry
Unverified new user

Originally posted by xboxdvl2:
employers need to mind there own business.if they go to work,get there on time,do the job properly, once they leave work and take there work uniform off it should be none of the employers business what they do, online or offline.
The problem these days is that employees lost their individualism. If they do something stupid every goes up in arms and says the company did it or the CEO must have known about it or whatever. This means they ned to be extra careful in hiring people otherwise the image of their company can go down the drain and even start protests against he company just because one individual was caught doing something stupid. The headlines read "News Corp uses illegal Phone taps" when it was just one business unit that fucked up, and perhaps even one reporter.

1125.3.2012 15:45

There is nothing more important than the privacy of the individual. It boggles the mind that this is even going on. These employers must think all employees are their slaves as asking for a private password is just not on. never ever give a password to anyone especially an employer. These employers have some neck even suggesting such a thing.

My private login details... people are forgetting what the word private means.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 25 Mar 2012 @ 3:51

1225.3.2012 17:06

This should be against the law...they don't need to know everything about my personal life... if they want to have proof about work history, call the previous jobs that I worked at!!!

1325.3.2012 17:26

when some of these nosy employers are subject to prosecution and litigation over violation of privacy laws they might just think twice before asking.i could be wrong but i dont think this is going anywhere fast.

1431.3.2012 11:10

I hate FB. Aside from that, there is one undisputed truth and solution to all FB problems:

Don't put things online that you wouldn't want everyone to see.

151.4.2012 00:37

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives struck down an amendment that would prevent employers from asking potential employees for Facebook passwords.
http://goo.gl/fb/jec54

161.4.2012 05:18

Originally posted by Mrguss:
Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives struck down an amendment that would prevent employers from asking potential employees for Facebook passwords.
http://goo.gl/fb/jec54
only in america eh?

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