Employers ask applicants to provide their Facebook passwords

[KnightofAncient]

I thought that I would share this article.

As the topic title states and Facebook threatens to sue companies who ask for FB passwords.

http://arstechnica.com/business/news...-passwords.ars

*This is not a thread to either bash FB or promote it, its about ethics*

[fedaykin]

If I was asked that in an interview, I would probably just leave at that point, if I hadn't already picked up that my hypothetical prospective employer was a, I believe you say in the American parlance, BACONBACONBACONBACONBACONBACONbag. I don't mind answering personal questions, as of course they need to judge what kind of person you are and how you'd fit in with their team, but asking for your passwords to spy on you is absurd.

[conurebleu]

How absurd is that? This is private life we are talking about here. Never give your password, isn't that a LAW on the Internet?

I would do the following :

''*Laugh* I've got nothing wrong on my FB, but no I'm not giving you my account. Password and ID are confidential, you should know about confidentiality yourselves''

If they would ever ask me that, I would answer that they don't take confidentialyty seriously, and in the domain I'm going to work in, it's going to blast them...

[Sgt Phantomizer]

Isn't that even in violation of our privacy rights, at least here in the US?

[Lodium]

I dont get it.
Why woud a company ever want to mix work and private?
And i woud probably just walk out telling them they have debious ethics and no confidentialyty

[Dusty Starr]

I have heard about this before, and it just sounds like a total invasion of privacy, and employers overstepping their bounds. I have heard that some students have been forced (or, they tried to force them) to give the schools their Facebook passwords as well. People need to back the heck off, it is none of their business.

[GeekyJuuu]

Indeed. To check a public Facebook profile is one thing, as it's public, so anything on it is fair game for employers. But this would count as private info, so this is crossing the line. What use do they have to delve the depths of your Facebook? If you can present yourself to the public in a professional way, and do good work, isn't that what matters? Your private life doesn't cease to be when you are employed...

Also, what if the employer tried that password to hack into emails and such...? Opens up a whole can of worms there.

[Ryos]

I dont get it.
Why woud a company ever want to mix work and private?

Well, the thing is you can usually tell a lot about a person by what they post on their Facebook account because a lot of people live their lives (personal and work) on there. Is it a gross invasion of your privacy? It sure is. Does it make sense when you're trying to hire the right people? Eh, not really. I think if they want to take a look so badly, they should ask to be your friend. My password is none of their business. I'd say my info isn't either, but I'm so boring that honestly, I don't think I'd be offended by showing that. :P

[GeekyJuuu]

It's weird though, as you CAN tell a lot about a person, but there also is quite a divide. I mean, surely these execs and bosses asking for such info know this. I'm sure they like to let loose and party on weekends/holidays, but know when it's time to get down to work. XD

I only worry because for me, as a gamer, people could be of the mindset that "Oh, she plays video games, guess she's a lazy-bones who will call in sick all the time to stay home and play," when in fact, I probably work much more than I play. I only worry about generalizations that can be drawn via this attitude. o: A divide does exist between work and the private life, don't you guys think? o: Or am I not making sense, lol. ^^;;

[Ryos]

Oh, I certainly concur that the private/work lives should be separate. If the people I work with knew just what sorts of hobbies I had, it'd be bad because of the perception issues.