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Employer Demands Facebook Login From Job Applicants

Posted by Soulskill on from the poking-and-prodding dept.

Hugh Pickens writes writes "Alex Madrigal reports in the Atlantic that the ACLU has taken up the case of Maryland corrections officer Robert Collins, who was required to provide his Facebook login and password to the Maryland Division of Corrections during a recertification interview so the interviewer could log 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,' says 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.' The ACLU of Maryland has sent a letter to Public Safety Secretary Gary Maynard (PDF) 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. After three weeks the ACLU has received no response."

10 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. This is why I don't use facebook by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    and it's not just because I don't have any friends

    1. Re:This is why I don't use facebook by clang_jangle · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wouldn't be so sure. He sounds a lot like the last guy who hired me.

      --
      Caveat Utilitor
  2. So, have two accounts? by DWMorse · · Score: 3, Funny

    One full of HOORAH, LOVE THE GOVERNMENT! and liking AMERICA: WE'LL PUT A BOOT IN YER ASS, but without many friends attached. And then you'll have your other (perhaps similar) Facebook page, but with your real friends and activities. That's not misleading, they wanted your Facebook login. They got it. No biggie.

    --
    There's a spot in User Info for World of Warcraft account names? Really?
  3. Re:Why the password? by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I refuse to support what I consider a complete waste of time and computing resources.

    So can I have your /. account? I'd like to drop 200,000 or so from my UID. Impress the ladies, you know?

  4. Innocent have no problem by amiga3D · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you have nothing to hide this surely shouldn't be a problem.

  5. Re:Why the password? by LynXmaN · · Score: 3, Funny

    I refuse to support what I consider a complete waste of time and computing resources.

    So can I have your /. account? I'd like to drop 200,000 or so from my UID. Impress the ladies, you know?

    Six digits is impressive? Kids this days...

    --
    May the source be with you!
  6. Re:Why the password? by shogun · · Score: 3, Funny

    my.lawn->get_off(you);

  7. Re:Why the password? by Xugumad · · Score: 4, Funny

    You know what happened last time /. got into a user ID waving competition? http://slashdot.org/~palpatine (#94) turned up and made us all look silly.

  8. Re:I have to applaud the ACLU... by hedwards · · Score: 4, Funny

    To be fair, Fox does sprinkle in known lies pretty liberally.

  9. Re:Why the password? by Yvan256 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Make your password "imnotgivingyoumypassword", problem solved.