Senators Ask Feds To Probe Facebook Log-in Requests

thomst writes "Cnet's Michelle Meyers reports that democratic senators Richard Blumenthal and Charles Schumer have asked the Justice Department to investigate what they call a 'new disturbing trend' of prospective employers demanding job applicants to turn over user names and passwords for their social networks. 'Employers have no right to ask job applicants for their house keys or to read their diaries — why should they be able to ask them for their Facebook passwords and gain unwarranted access to a trove of private information about what we like, what messages we send to people, or who we are friends with?' asked Schumer. Last Friday, in response to complaints from employees, Facebook published a post expressing its opposition to the practice, which it said undermines both the security and the privacy of the user and the user's friends. Erin Egan, the company's chief privacy officer for policy, offered that employers who demand password information for prospective employees might just end up getting sued."

Comments

Pah! Antisocial network

[Oswald McWeany]

Pah! So what happens to people like me with no social network? The can't ask me to send something I don't have.

Whereas, I am legitimately not on any social network. I wonder if they could prove otherwise for people who are.

Re:Pah! Antisocial network

[Inda]

I do well in interviews. Always have, and probably always will. It's the smile, the handshake and my unwillingness to bullshit.

Some businesses just want to tell you how great they are. Some people just want to tell you how great they are; how they've climbed the ladder - "You too could be a fat manager on 50k if you turn yourself into a lying slob like me!" No, not me, you're mistaken.

Other businesses just stick to the questions, one after another after another. These are the hardest. They don't care that I'm not planning to be here in five years, and can't understand me not wanting to answer the question. ("I need a job to pay the bills", was an actual answer that landed me one job. Ask me that question again after I've worked for you for a month).

The best interviews are always friendly chats.

My point? Interviews are a two-way process. They want to know about me and, this is the part some don't understand, I want to know about them.

What was your turnover last year? And the year before? (are you going to be around next year?)

Why did this vacancy become available? Why did the other person leave? (is this a shit job? Are they willing to bullshit me?)

What are the staff turnover rates? (is this whole place shit?)

Can I have your Facebook password? (never been asked, but if they want mine...)

Ask questions. Ask why. Ask it five times. And remember that bullshit stinks. It may take a while to reach your nose but it stinks all the same. Everyone knows the smell.