Facebook: Legal Action Against Employers Asking For Your Password

i would love to sue my boss for that by drodal · 2012-03-23 05:44 · Score: 5, Funny

it would be fun. Help me facebook.

Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by mcavic · 2012-03-23 06:01 · Score: 5, Interesting

Your comment reminds me of when my company did layoffs:
Employer: ... and an extra two weeks of severance if you agree not to sue us.
Employee: Wait... I can sue you?
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by jhoegl · 2012-03-23 06:33 · Score: 4, Insightful

I find Facebook's concern for privacy ironic considering this...
Although it should be against the law for businesses to pry into our personal lives, including our financial history, Facebook is the wrong company to lead the charge.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-23 06:38 · Score: 5, Insightful

I won't even give my boss my work password. IT's my account and any access by another person to it would violate my ability to know anything done with that account was done by me. We have a policy against it. No one not even a superior is supposed to have access to our A/D account. Any changes have to be documented. They have the ability to change my password. There would be a record of who did it and questions can be asked then. I view all of my accounts with the same level of security. My companies involvement with me ends at their network.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Patch86 · 2012-03-23 06:44 · Score: 4, Informative

My company's Info Security rules actively prohibit password sharing. My employer obviously wants a clear audit trail for any given action, because they want to know who to blame for fraud, monumental cock-ups, etc.
I didn't realise there were large companies that didn't do this. It seems like common sense.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Caratted · 2012-03-23 06:48 · Score: 5, Funny

Your comment reminds me of when my company did layoffs: Employer: ... and an extra two weeks of severance if you agree not to sue us. Employee: Wait... I can sue you?
That's when you say, "no, I won't sign that."

And see how much more they offer you. Sales 101, my man.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by drodal · 2012-03-23 06:49 · Score: 5, Insightful

Well in all fairness, facebook is the only one here that can stand up and make a difference. It's nearly impossible for each person that's been wronged to prove their point, but if facebook gets enough complaints they can wave there deep pocketed arms and say, "wanna fight us, cuz we can fight for a loooong time" So no, they aren't the bastions of privacy, but they are on the right side here. So good for them.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by TheRaven64 · 2012-03-23 06:51 · Score: 5, Insightful

I didn't realise there were large companies that didn't do this. It seems like common sense.
Expecting common sense from large companies is certainly one way of ensuring that your life is full of surprises...

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I am TheRaven on Soylent News
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by g0bshiTe · 2012-03-23 06:54 · Score: 3, Interesting

Why sign up for social media as yourself in the first place? Yes I'm on FB, but not as me so no one that doesn't already know my ident can find me.

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I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by niftydude · 2012-03-23 07:06 · Score: 5, Funny

Well Facebook only breaches your privacy when a company pays for the service. They have no desire to give that info out for free.

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You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-23 07:18 · Score: 5, Insightful

They aren't protecting your privacy, they are protecting their own data integrity.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by MightyMartian · 2012-03-23 07:48 · Score: 4, Insightful

And what if a potential employer demands access to your email accounts? That's apparently been happening as well. The real solution here is a legislative one, banning the practice.

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Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2012-03-23 08:00 · Score: 3, Insightful

it would be fun. Help me facebook.

You make light of this, however, Facebook would seem to have a case (disclaimer: IANAL). If bosses and companies start asking for Facebook logins people may well delete their FB accounts instead. I would. And even if you keep it, suddenly you're double-thinking everything before you post it which removes the charm (or some other more appropriate word) that is Facebook.
Facebook's value is based on the number of members that they have and how much those members use it. The National Labor Relations Board even protects some concerted employee activities on social media including FB. Anything that causes people to avoid using Facebook directly affects FB's valuation and profits, in which case FB has a case for tortious interference in their business process. This, I feel, is a stronger argument than just a violation of the FB ToS.

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"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Nom+du+Keyboard · 2012-03-23 08:02 · Score: 4, Funny

Employer: ... and an extra two weeks of severance if you agree not to sue us.
Employee: Wait... I can sue you?
This should be your sig line.

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"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by FireFury03 · 2012-03-23 08:36 · Score: 4, Insightful

If I asked a potential employee for their personal passwords and they handed them over, they most certainly wouldn't get the job. I want employees with a clue about security - if they are happy to hand over their personal passwords, I can only assume they would also be happy to hand over confidential company data to a third party.

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http://blog.nexusuk.org
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by bored_engineer · 2012-03-23 08:49 · Score: 5, Insightful

Why is refusing to provide such information not also a real solution? I would no more give access to my e-mail than I would provide the details of conversations between me and my wife.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by HapSlappy_2222 · 2012-03-23 09:06 · Score: 4, Insightful

Agreed. The practice is just another way to weed out candidates without actually committing someone to examine actual qualifications. In the meantime, "I prefer not to disclose that information." is the proper response, just like the checkbox in the "Race" field of employment applications.

If the request then turns into a demand, give the interviewer the ever-elegant "Raised Eyebrow of Self Respect" and end the interview right then and there. There will be something better if you keep looking (likely something you'd have missed if you took this job) and you shouldn't waste your precious time on this type of blatant asshattery.

Some other sucker can work under that company's bullshit scrutiny (if the company's opening gambit is spying on your personal life, do you really think it stops there?) while you keep looking for a **Real Job**. We all need to pound it into our brains that we have the right and the responsibility to choose who we work for, even in a shitty economy. Sure, you have bills to pay, so it's very hard to turn down a job, but be realistic. You'll either be right back at the job hunt in two months or you'll wanna be hanging from the rafters.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by allo · 2012-03-23 09:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

who would comply with this? Anyone who would is not worth hiring, as he will be the person handing out all company-data to the next social engineer. When the social engineer comes around the corner and says "hey, data-inspection day, please hand over all the company passwords" ... you really hope none of your employees complies.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Applekid · 2012-03-23 09:36 · Score: 4, Insightful

There's no conflict there. Facebook just doesn't want people:
* to stop using them, since even a passive usage is a product they can monetize in ads and data-mining
* to create duplicate "clean" versions of themselves that they give away, as it will pollute the data-mining efforts
Pretending to care about people's privacy is just a happy side effect.

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More Twoson than Cupertino
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by steveg · 2012-03-23 10:00 · Score: 5, Insightful

If I were applying to any company, it would be as technical staff (IT.)
Handing over a password to *anything* would be proof of a lack of competence for the job, and I'd tell them that.

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Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
Re:i would love to sue my boss for that by Stewie241 · 2012-03-23 11:46 · Score: 4, Insightful

But this is entirely the point of why Facebook is fighting this. If anybody believes it is about their terms of service or about standing up for their users out of benevolence they are ignorant.
Facebook *has* to try to stop this. If this practice becomes too invasive then it could possibly affect Facebook usage. This is bad for Facebook's business.
Facebook has to convince its users that they can freely share information and maintain some sense of control over who gets their data. They can't allow the precedence to be set of employers asking for account information and expecting to get it.
Now, when it comes to those who say they would just say no, I would say that it is a great situation to be in. You must keep in mind however that this practice isn't specific to the IT industry - it seems to be happening in industries where competition is steeper. There are some industries where opportunities for interviews are few, let alone jobs. When faced with the choice between potentially not getting a job or giving up a little bit of privacy, some people see little choice other than to make that sacrifice. If the practice becomes too commonplace and prevalent, then it could mean that this becomes the norm rather than the exception, and you too could one day face that choice.
I'm glad I'm not in the job market.

But now... by vjl · 2012-03-23 05:45 · Score: 4, Insightful

...employers will just ask potential employees to accept their HR staff's friend request, as the article yesterday stated. But one could easily get around that by making sure the HR staff is in a Facebook list that has no access to a user's wall/timeline and other info. Still, seems like the employer wouldn't like that and they would find some way to get the employee to let HR in. :(

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My Daily photo website.

Re:But now... by SerpentMage · 2012-03-23 05:50 · Score: 4, Informative

And a company has the ability to say, "hey we don't want to hire you." As the article states you could sue for discrimination. But in this economy that has as about as much chance as snowball in hell. IMO the reality is that with social networks whether or not it is "private" you are putting information out that could get in the wrong person's hands.
Since the beginning of the web (I started developing websites around the beginning of 95) I have been ever careful of what I put out... The key is to make it look "real", but not enough to make you look bad.

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"You can't make a race horse of a pig"
"No," said Samuel, "but you can make very fast pig"
Re:But now... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-23 05:51 · Score: 4, Insightful

Create another FB account solely for work purposes. And when the HR rep b-tches about that, tell them the HR rep's FB account is obviously a work account and not the HR rep's actual personal FB account.
Re:But now... by ohnocitizen · 2012-03-23 05:54 · Score: 5, Interesting

We do have another alternative, as unlikely a road to victory as it may seem. We can create a PR storm targeting the company using twitter and other social networks to call a company out on its privacy violating ways. Even a year ago I would have ignored the various online petitions and such as not having actual power. But the recent victories against Bank of America and Verizon have really got me thinking. Perhaps if a company is big enough or the violation flagrant enough to garner some buzz, there is a way to punish companies for misbehavior.
Re:But now... by arth1 · 2012-03-23 05:57 · Score: 5, Insightful

Or better yet - don't have a Facebook account.
Re:But now... by compro01 · 2012-03-23 05:59 · Score: 3, Funny

But then you're a anti-social and therefore likely to go on a shooting rampage.

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upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
Re:But now... by Culture20 · 2012-03-23 06:06 · Score: 5, Interesting

It's actually easier to sue for discrimination if you allow them full access. They'll suddenly know your age, political preference, your other-racial significant other, sexual preference, etc. Plenty of fertile ground for lawsuits.
Re:But now... by SilentStaid · 2012-03-23 06:11 · Score: 5, Funny

Have you come across any employers who do like to be told to fuck off?
Yes, but I work in a specialized industry. If you'll excuse me, I have 13 more movies to finish by the end of the week.
Re:But now... by EvilBudMan · 2012-03-23 06:16 · Score: 3, Funny

Yeah just give them your /. password instead.
Re:But now... by xero314 · 2012-03-23 06:25 · Score: 4, Insightful

This is the reason that Facebook is stepping into this issue. Facebook may or may not care about your privacy, but the whole reason they are taking an interest is out of fear of losing members. I personally do not have, and see no reason to ever have, a Facebook account so it doesn't affect me, but I would still walk away from any employer that even asked me for access to my, non-existent, Facebook account.
Re:But now... by Thud457 · 2012-03-23 06:38 · Score: 4, Funny

But then you're a anti-social and therefore likely to go on a shooting rampage.
Damn, you've got my number. eerie.

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the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Re:But now... by AngryDeuce · 2012-03-23 06:47 · Score: 3, Informative

Plenty of fertile ground for lawsuits.
If you can find a lawyer willing to take the case, of course. From my own experiences dealing with discrimination as an employee of a major corporation, I couldn't find any lawyers in my area willing to take the case because it would have been ridiculously expensive to bring to trial, not because my case didn't necessarily have merit (although I admit it would have been a difficult case, as much of the discrimination was in the form of verbal comments and bias in terms of scheduling and double-standards, still, there were numerous witnesses and others that were discriminated against to varying degrees).
Not to say that there aren't frivolous discrimination lawsuits, but the mere size and resources of the defendant has a definite chilling effect on those cases being brought.
Re:But now... by Patch86 · 2012-03-23 06:50 · Score: 3, Insightful

Ditto. From an interviewer point of view, the question might actually have some value for the opposite reason. Interviewer: "I need you to give me access to your Facebook account, Twitter account, webmail account, etc.". Interviewee "OK, no problem". Interviewer "Then you're a very foolish person who clearly gives not two damns about data privacy and are likely to be a complete liability to our company's data, network security and fraud defences. But thanks for your time".
Re:But now... by rickb928 · 2012-03-23 06:57 · Score: 3, Interesting

Exactly. Employers asking for your age can be annoying, but that is usually illegal. Suing doesn't enhance your resume, but I for one would look elsewhere for emloyment if they seriously asked me for either my Facebook account access or to be friended to look over my profile. I would ask them why, and anything other than a specific 'we are looking for signs of dangerous behavior that could cause problems' would get a vacant stare and a short interview. Even then, put it in writing and I'll tell you if I can agree to 'not do that', unless of course it's unreasonable, which also results in a short inteview.
Yes, these are difficult times, but some employers are not worth it.

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deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
Re:But now... by pixelpusher220 · 2012-03-23 07:30 · Score: 4, Interesting

Or is this a test? Those who say 'sure' don't get return calls, those who say 'not a chance'...show the requisite intelligence and are kept in the running for the position?

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People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
Re:But now... by sdnoob · 2012-03-23 08:18 · Score: 3, Insightful

facebook is kinda in the driver's seat here due to its size and popularity, both with users and with companies trying to reach those users.....
so if facebook terminated company accounts when they receive some sort of proof that the company is asking for passwords or forcing friend requests of employees or job seekers -- as well as the accounts of known employees of said company -- the resulting shit storm (from employees-turned-collateral-damage, and from marketing / pr departments / execs, when they can't use facebook) should cause most companies to back off.

Ever actually happened? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-23 05:46 · Score: 4, Insightful

Has a single company that has done this been identified by name? Every article I've seen does NOT mention any name, making it sound more anecdotal than factual.

Re:Ever actually happened? by DanTheStone · 2012-03-23 05:53 · Score: 4, Informative

Do you not read Slashdot? http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/19/1746256/Employer-Demands-Facebook-Login-From-Job-Applicants
Re:Ever actually happened? by noh8rz3 · 2012-03-23 05:53 · Score: 3, Informative

Has a single company that has done this been identified by name? Every article I've seen does NOT mention any name, making it sound more anecdotal than factual.
maryland department of corrections was screening guards this way. Looking for gang signs. West Coooast! *does the twisted finger thing* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/aclu-facebook-password_n_1372242.html.
Re:Ever actually happened? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-23 05:57 · Score: 3, Funny

I was told that reading the article was considered poor etiquette here.
Re:Ever actually happened? by gfreeman · 2012-03-23 07:26 · Score: 3, Funny

Wait, Facebook is demanding their applicants give up their Facebook passwords? Fucking bastards!

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Ceci n'est pas un sig.

(sings). Take this job and Shove it by cpu6502 · 2012-03-23 05:48 · Score: 4, Funny

You can't have my password no more.....

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My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"

How about this? by olsmeister · 2012-03-23 05:49 · Score: 5, Interesting

Make part of the Facebook login process to enter your your race, age, marital status, or other things that it is illegal for employers to ask you about in an interview. If they ask you to log in for them, you can claim that that is a form of asking you that information and is not allowed.

Re:How about this? by vux984 · 2012-03-23 07:41 · Score: 4, Funny

Why do you need to tell them you don't know it "honestly"? You could save yourself the script, and just lie.
Are you worried they are going to torture it out of you, and you genuinely need not to know it?

Already illegal by gurps_npc · 2012-03-23 05:50 · Score: 5, Interesting

If you have a good lawyer, you can probably sue them already. In most facebook accounts, people provide a lot of information that it is illegal for the employer to ask about - age, gender, race, sexuality. Employers can't ask these questions, and similarly, they can't ask questions that they know will reveal that information. We don't really need a new law, just a smart lawyer

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excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com

Re:wait... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-23 05:50 · Score: 5, Informative

Anyone can draft a law. Even Reddit. Even you. Then that party needs to convince a member of the House or Senate to introduce it, and then both need to pass it, and the President needs to sign it, and (if applicable) the Supreme Court needs to uphold it. Take a Civics class.

current laws and terms of service by Nyall · 2012-03-23 05:51 · Score: 3, Interesting

Since the current laws about unauthorized network/computer access are vague enough to include doing something against any website's terms of service couldn't FB just put it their TOS? Then setup a bounty or whistle blower reporting system.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

Sure, I'll give you that FB password... by kbob88 · 2012-03-23 05:52 · Score: 5, Insightful

Right after you give me the root password to the company's servers!

Seems like a fair trade to me...

Re:Sure, I'll give you that FB password... by arth1 · 2012-03-23 06:06 · Score: 3, Insightful

Right after you give me the root password to the company's servers!
Seems like a fair trade to me...
Um, no.
I have the root password to the company's servers. It's sort of required when being a senior sysadmin.
But the company has no right to my private accounts, any more than I have the right to access the CEOs or HR people's private accounts.
I don't have a FB account, so that one is rather easy not to give them. But if they asked for another non-work account, I'd report them to the company's ethical hotline.
Re:Sure, I'll give you that FB password... by kbob88 · 2012-03-23 06:13 · Score: 4, Funny

I imagine your usage of that password will be just as ethical as theirs, too. So yeah, fair trade.
Oh, completely ethical! Trust me! I just want to validate you all are a company that I want to be part of. As part of that analysis, I'll be poking around your servers to ensure that you have the proper security, logging, and auditing set up correctly. And review your financial and accounting software. And I want to make sure that you're friends with the right sort of other companies, and that you're not posting any inappropriate or obscene files on your servers, of course. Don't want to join a company and later have it blow up in a security or financial scandal. I mean really, I can't afford to have my reputation tarnished by being associated with *that* kind of company, can I?

just dont. by nimbius · 2012-03-23 05:52 · Score: 4, Insightful

it should be legislated that at any time someone declares social media to be the wave of the future, a round of eye rolling and fart-noise making should commence immediately.
this is a company that spies on you for the US government, sells your data to anyone who wants it, and is totally content to insist it has full legal rights over all of your content, indefinitely, with or without your consent.

close your facebook account and consider checking out some meat-space human interaction tools like meetup.com. there arent any buttons to indicate the position of your thumbs, and when you like something you just tell someone "hi, i enjoy this." Best of all, no asshole corporation pretending theyre doing you a favour by scouring your personal life for hints of product placement opportunities or subversive anti-government opinions. As a bonus, your employer will have the freeedom to hire you based on their objective opinion of your job skills and critical thinking ability, not your farmville or mafiawars score and picture of that drunken bender at grizzlebees where you wore the fried onion like a head-crab from Half-Life.

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Good people go to bed earlier.

Re:Ooh! Ooh! Simple Solution by ZeroSumHappiness · 2012-03-23 05:53 · Score: 4, Insightful

As I posted in a similar story discussion, this will just become an HR screen checkbox requirement that will play out like this:
"Please provide your FacePlace login information here."
"I don't use FacePlace."
"Right. Applicant failed to produce FacePlace login information."

Easy Screening by jimmerz28 · 2012-03-23 05:55 · Score: 5, Funny

I'd just use this as a screening question for potential employees.

If you willingly give me your login credentials I should just assume you're a moron and not hire you.

My answer is "I don't use facebook" by erroneus · 2012-03-23 05:55 · Score: 5, Insightful

And it will always be my answer. Whether or not I use facebook is no one's business. Not my family. Not my friends. Not my co-workers or employers. "Please wear this delightful necklace with a GPS and a camera to take pictures of whatever is around you at any given time. BTW, it's a condition of employment." There's just something dark and sinister about that. How any employer could think this is a great idea when they know damned well they wouldn't be willing to share that information with their employees is looking upon their employees as a "lesser being" and certainly not equal as idealized by the US constitution. If this is not a "discriminatory act" it most definitely leads to discriminatory behavior.

There is already a list of things an employer cannot ask an employee for. I think it's time to make a law which issues a WHITE LIST of things employers can ask for rather than using the black list system we have today. The potential for this to become an ever-growing problem is too great.

Re:My answer is "I don't use facebook" by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2012-03-23 06:08 · Score: 4, Funny

Whether or not I use facebook is no one's business. Not my family. Not my friends.
That's one quiet Facebook profile you've got there...

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#DeleteChrome
Re:My answer is "I don't use facebook" by TheGratefulNet · 2012-03-23 06:08 · Score: 3, Interesting

I went in for a haircut recently. first question out of this clerk's mouth was 'your email address?'.
in total surprise, I delayed and then said 'uhm, no; just here for a haircut, please'.
they had no problem accepting no; but it was damned strange to have that be the first 'hello' from them. or really, any question at all!
the guy in front of me happily gave them their desired info. goes to show that if you ask a sheep to do something, likely they will not even question it.
I'm not adding my name to some mailing list that a haircutter is collecting! wtf??

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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
Re:My answer is "I don't use facebook" by Americano · 2012-03-23 06:18 · Score: 3, Insightful

And it will always be my answer. Whether or not I use facebook is no one's business.
That's great - if you don't use Facebook. If you do use it, then you're *lying* to a prospective employer, telling them you don't. Two wrongs don't make a right. They can't coerce you into giving it, so simply decline to provide it.
Employer: "May we have your Facebook password so we can (save the children / fight the global war on terror / end domestic assault / some other well-meaning but bullshit excuse for invading your privacy)?"
You: "No you may not. My use (or non-use) of Facebook is none of your business. I guess we're done here."
The simple fact that they ASK for it, regardless of the reasoning and regardless of whether or not you use it, should be enough to warn you that you don't want to work for them.

Re:What happens when the answer is "mu?" by Sponge+Bath · 2012-03-23 05:57 · Score: 4, Insightful

What happens when the answer is "mu?"

They will be suspicious that you are lying and not hire you. Or they will think you are a technophobe and not hire you. Or they will think you are a cow and not hire you. That may sound unreasonable, but if they were reasonable, they would not ask for the information in the first place.

Re:You need a new law for this? by Chrisq · 2012-03-23 06:02 · Score: 3, Informative

except in the UK where they ask your religion, your sexual preference, your race etc.

True, but it always says "you do not have to supply this information" then something about not doing so won't affect your likelihood of getting a job but that they hope you will because it helps them monitor their diversity.

DMCA by RichMan · 2012-03-23 06:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

Why does the DMCA not apply? Why are these companies all not in violation of the the DMCA.
The users contents is private and password protected. The users content is copyright protected work of the user and their friends.

***ANY*** attempt to violate the users password protection would seem to me to be a violation of DMCA. Does not ANY method to break DRM include intimidation of the key holder ?

Re:So employers do ask for Facebook passwords? by TheGratefulNet · 2012-03-23 06:10 · Score: 4, Insightful

its worse. many (!) employers ask/demand to have you pee in a cup, for them.

its fine and reasonable to say that you don't have a FB account. but just try telling them you don't have any piss in you! they just won't believe it.

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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."

Re:So I've never had any social media account by cellocgw · 2012-03-23 06:11 · Score: 3, Informative

Says Mr. 6534 /. account. Bad news for you: This is social media, too.
And in case you didn't look, there's the option to put all sorts of crud in your profile, plus non-blocked people can scan every comment you ever posted.

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Re:My content is public by leonardluen · 2012-03-23 06:28 · Score: 3, Interesting

a better way to say it might be "I can't give you my password. if i were to so easily hand out my personal passwords, then how could you trust me to keep any work passwords secret"

Job interview ... 'on the internet' by mounthood · 2012-03-23 06:31 · Score: 4, Insightful

Overbearing employers are nothing new; this is just HR prying into applicants lives with 'on the internet' appended. Whether it's drug tests, credit checks, IQ exams or 3-day multi-person interviews, some companies will push the boundaries and the people will have to push back, sometimes with politics and laws.

Imagine if an employer said they want to inspect your home and interview your family. If the job involves a top secret clearance maybe that's OK but not for 99% of jobs. And here's my point: nobody would agree to having their home inspected and HR wouldn't even think to ask. It's only because social networking is new that anyone even wonders if might be reasonable.

Since the beginning of the web (I started developing websites around the beginning of 95) I have been ever careful of what I put out... The key is to make it look "real", but not enough to make you look bad.

I've filtered myself too, as I'm sure most of Slashdot has, but we should really focus on fighting for everyones rights. No matter how well we may protect ourselves we all have to live with societies attitudes. As technical folk we have the best chance of setting the norms for life on the internet.

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tomorrow who's gonna fuss

Selling your information by space_jake · 2012-03-23 06:31 · Score: 3, Insightful

How is Facebook supposed to sell this information if companies can demand it for free from new hires?

No new law is needed by perpenso · 2012-03-23 06:31 · Score: 4, Interesting

it would be fun. Help me facebook.

Humor aside, if that is your goal you do not need help from facebook nor a new law. Existing laws will do quite nicely. For example it is illegal to ask a job candidate their age and a prospective employer can get sued for doing so. Logging into a facebook account exposes a prospective employer to much such prohibited information.

Re:No new law is needed by perpenso · 2012-03-23 07:20 · Score: 4, Funny

humor aside, i got the first post and was so excited I had to type something beside first post quickly, so this came out....... I don't really want to sue my boss......

Translation: My boss reads slashdot and I hope he is not familiar with the concept of Freudian Slip. :-)

Re:This seems like common sense... by iamgnat · 2012-03-23 06:45 · Score: 4, Insightful

It makes me feel dirty, but "Go Facebook!"

On the other hand, the cynical side of me thinks this is just so Mark can monetize giving the information to employers as part of a "background check". They could provide "compatibility rankings" based on employeer criteria without ever letting the employeer see the private data itself and thus avoiding privacy issues. Yeap, I think I'll keep with my no Facebook policy and if someone doesn't want to hire me because I don't have one, I don't want to work for them anyway.

Pic of GOATSE by Billly+Gates · 2012-03-23 07:04 · Score: 3, Funny

I would give such an employer a little surprise to make them think twice next time. :-)

Sure I will just have a fake facebook. Pick of me on my user icon just like my real one. Give them the password and as soon as they log in have a very large zoomed in pic of the bloody ass in GOATSE as my post.

With white text caption saying you violated my rights I figured I would violate yours. Enjoy your lunch hour ... come on guys. Be creative

--
http://saveie6.com/

I think it's a good test for a sysadmin by Quila · 2012-03-23 08:41 · Score: 3, Insightful

If he coughs up the password, definitely do not hire him.

Re:Here's how I reacted to that....(true story) by realityimpaired · 2012-03-23 10:33 · Score: 5, Interesting

Oh, did you think a severance was something you are entitled to? I see your line of reasoning a lot of slashdot. The time to negotiate is not when you are being laid off/fired. Consider yourself lucky for getting anything above and beyond a pink slip.

Am I ever glad I don't live in whatever backwater country you're in. In the civilized world, severance is mandated by law in the case of a layoff, either in the form of advance notice ("we'll be shutting down operations next November, line something up now and if you get a job before then, we'll give you a reference"), or pay in lieu of notice ("you're all done. pack your things, go home. your final pay will have 4 weeks' pay in lieu of the notice"). The amount of notice or pay in lieu is dictated by the size of the layoff... a small layoff of 20 or fewer people is only 2 weeks, with it increasing significantly with the number of people being let go. When Dell shut down operations in this city, I walked away with a $25,000 severance package (which would have been more, but I was given 4 weeks' notice), and got to keep my medical benefits for 6 months, and I wasn't anywhere near senior management.

There is a difference between being laid off and being fired.

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