FARK.com: (7679928) New bill could allow your employer access to your Facebook password. Now, granted, people already voluntarily abandon their privacy by posting their every move on Facebook, but this is going too far

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		New bill could allow your employer access to your Facebook password. Now, granted, people already voluntarily abandon their privacy by posting their every move on Facebook, but this is going too far (seattlepi.com)		155
		More: Scary, Facebook, Too Far

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5455 clicks; posted to Geek » on 03 Apr 2013 at 11:26 AM | Favorite | share:

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unlikely		2013-04-03 09:52:51 AM

Time for that "facebook account that THEY get to know about"

basemetal		2013-04-03 09:53:06 AM

Just enough rope.....

somedude210		2013-04-03 09:58:30 AM

Isn't this a violation of privacy? Do they want to browse my email too? check out my text messages? See how many BIE I get and how many WIE I send out?

tell them you don't have one, they don't believe you then you could argue that without probable cause, there's no reason they should have access to it either. Kinda works with drug testing too

cman		2013-04-03 10:02:47 AM

I can understand if you want to check out and see if your employees are farking around on the job whilst using company computers, but this is a bit far

Mugato		2013-04-03 10:12:35 AM

I think this is another case of congress just not understanding the intertubes.

usernameguy		2013-04-03 10:15:14 AM

Isn't this a violation of privacy? Do they want to browse my email too? check out my text messages? See how many BIE I get and how many WIE I send out?

Yes, they do.

dittybopper		2013-04-03 10:15:15 AM

Just say no. You can even put it in terms they would understand: "Let me get this straight, you want me to give you password information to my private accounts? That means I can publish confidential work information, right?".

Better yet, just say "Give me yours first".

Generation_D		2013-04-03 10:22:05 AM

Look, stupid and embarrassing is not the same as unemployable. If that were true, half of the sales and marketing depts would be out of a job.

Some 'Splainin' To Do		2013-04-03 10:30:59 AM

I'm glad that California shut that crap down.

AbbeySomeone		2013-04-03 10:53:33 AM

Just like a drug test, you can always refuse.

FirstNationalBastard		2013-04-03 10:55:14 AM

AbbeySomeone: Just like a drug test, you can always refuse.

...and be scouring the classifieds for a new job soon after.

somedude210		2013-04-03 10:57:10 AM

FirstNationalBastard: AbbeySomeone: Just like a drug test, you can always refuse.

...and be scouring the classifieds for a new job soon after.

if they fire you over refusing a drug test forced upon you without probable cause, you can probably sue them for wrongful termination

if they fire you for not adhering to a clause in your contract saying that you must take a drug test yearly, then you're boned

alwaysjaded		2013-04-03 11:05:07 AM

FTFA: "Rather than just referring everything to law enforcement, we have the opportunity to work with the employee and to investigate," said Denny Eliason, who is representing the banking industry.

I'll bet this alsoeans if said employee gets some dirt on us, we can shut them up with bribe money or blackmail.

I was watching some bit the other day about how now potential employers will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook or refuse to give up your password. Really rubs me the wrong way.

alwaysjaded		2013-04-03 11:06:00 AM

* also means

Me proofread gooder

FirstNationalBastard		2013-04-03 11:08:43 AM

alwaysjaded: FTFA: "Rather than just referring everything to law enforcement, we have the opportunity to work with the employee and to investigate," said Denny Eliason, who is representing the banking industry.

I'll bet this alsoeans if said employee gets some dirt on us, we can shut them up with bribe money or blackmail.

I was watching some bit the other day about how now potential employers will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook or refuse to give up your password. Really rubs me the wrong way.

When I was going through the process last year of getting employed for a dispatcher job, they required facebook accounts, e-mail addresses, all that sort of crap.

I decided I didn't need the job that bad, not because I have an incriminating Facebook account or anything (or even have a facebook account, for that matter), but because it's no employer's farking business what I do outside of work.

serial_crusher		2013-04-03 11:23:35 AM

Well, good thing nobody's forcing me to work for those companies. I support this bill though. Employers would be assholes to check your Facebook like that, but here in America you're free to be an asshole.

dittybopper		2013-04-03 11:28:23 AM

FirstNationalBastard: When I was going through the process last year of getting employed for a dispatcher job, they required facebook accounts, e-mail addresses, all that sort of crap.

I decided I didn't need the job that bad, not because I have an incriminating Facebook account or anything (or even have a facebook account, for that matter), but because it's no employer's farking business what I do outside of work.

If I ever end up in that sort of position (and I don't plan on it), I've got a perfect line: "Are you sure you really want to hire someone who is willing to give out passwords so easily to anyone who asks for it?"

I work in IT, so that would probably quash any attempt, if I'm dealing with another IT person. HR? Probably not until I explained to them in detail why it's such a bad idea.

HotWingConspiracy		2013-04-03 11:29:03 AM

Giving out your password is a violation of the Terms of Service. How can they compel someone to break an agreement they've entered in to with an outside party?

LineNoise		2013-04-03 11:33:09 AM

FirstNationalBastard: I decided I didn't need the job that bad, not because I have an incriminating Facebook account or anything (or even have a facebook account, for that matter), but because it's no employer's farking business what I do outside of work.

Sure it is. If you are an employer, you don't want your employees being idiots that will tie your name to them.

They don't care that you posted pictures of you at the bar or whatever. They care if you are badmouthing them in a semi-public forum, or are looking for signs that you are basically an idiot. It is just a screening tool.

Lets talk frankly about internal cleanliness		2013-04-03 11:33:24 AM

I'm in the "nothing there that matters much" group, but this is still a bit much.

What's next, Boss? Copy of my housekey? Access to my financial accounts? Wanna put a webcam in my bedroom? Want me to keep a poop journal for your perusal at random? Too farking bad.

Pay me for 8 hours a day, get 8 hours a day. What I do with the remaining 16 is my own goddamned business, thank you.

meat0918		2013-04-03 11:33:57 AM

What if I'm an introvert that got overwhelmed by Facebook and canceled my account?

rogue49		2013-04-03 11:36:31 AM

I'm waiting for the time citizens get their privacy rights truly back

From Credit
From Employers
From Government
From Landlords
From...

Privacy is a thing of the past.
As is accountability of all of the above...versus holding everyone else accountable below.

madgonad		2013-04-03 11:38:29 AM

There is a simple answer to this type of request. The EULA that you agreed to when creating the account forbids you from giving your password/providing access to anyone else. It isn't just a question of YOUR privacy, but a third party accessing your account will have access to other people's accounts that have given permission only to select people and NOT some curious business.

jack21221		2013-04-03 11:39:29 AM

alwaysjaded: will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook

I wonder if this has ever happened to me. I've been applying for full-time jobs recently, and been getting close to zero call backs, even for jobs I'm qualified for and have a lot of experience in. I have no social media presence at all (no facebook, twitter, google plus, linkedin, myspace, nothing). So I just wonder if they're searching for my name, finding that I don't exist, and ignoring me?

hubiestubert		2013-04-03 11:41:54 AM

Lets talk frankly about internal cleanliness: I'm in the "nothing there that matters much" group, but this is still a bit much.

What's next, Boss? Copy of my housekey? Access to my financial accounts? Wanna put a webcam in my bedroom? Want me to keep a poop journal for your perusal at random? Too farking bad.

Pay me for 8 hours a day, get 8 hours a day. What I do with the remaining 16 is my own goddamned business, thank you.

So long as you get paid in Company scrip, that will be just fine. After all, we wouldn't want you wasting your wages on something substandard, right? You get company housing, and superior company products at the company store, so why would you NEED cash?

Seriously, kids...

kvinesknows		2013-04-03 11:41:59 AM

So can they complel you to all them to come into your house too? oh right.. WITH A COURT ORDER

so whats the fricken problem then? Just get a court order

Slaves2Darkness		2013-04-03 11:45:09 AM

somedude210: FirstNationalBastard: AbbeySomeone: Just like a drug test, you can always refuse.

...and be scouring the classifieds for a new job soon after.

if they fire you over refusing a drug test forced upon you without probable cause, you can probably sue them for wrongful termination

if they fire you for not adhering to a clause in your contract saying that you must take a drug test yearly, then you're boned

BWHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! You know how many wrongful termination cases actually result in wins for the plaintiff Very few. Face it the US has been bought by corporate interests and until you are willing to enforce your rights at the end of a gun you are just going to continue to lose those rights.

Katie98_KT		2013-04-03 11:45:28 AM

ooochromeooo		2013-04-03 11:47:26 AM

If you are forced to give up your password, there's a simple solution. Post a bunch of stuff on Facebook about the protected classes you belong to:

Race
Color
Religion
National origin
Age
Sex
Familial status
Disability status
Veteran status
Genetic information

HR people avoid having this information because if they do, you can make a very strong case that you were terminated or treated differently because of one of them.

The alternative is to keep a second decoy account, or to say that you don't keep one and lock your account down completely so that you are unsearchable.

Donnchadha		2013-04-03 11:48:35 AM

jack21221: alwaysjaded: will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook

I wonder if this has ever happened to me. I've been applying for full-time jobs recently, and been getting close to zero call backs, even for jobs I'm qualified for and have a lot of experience in. I have no social media presence at all (no facebook, twitter, google plus, linkedin, myspace, nothing). So I just wonder if they're searching for my name, finding that I don't exist, and ignoring me?

Hopefully that doesn't happen too much. I have a relatively common name and you'd get a ton of hits on facebook for people with my name -- none of them are me, of course. However, even if one of them was me, how would they know for sure? If my hypothetical Facebook was set to "You get to see my picture, but you gotta be my friend to see anything else" they couldn't even double check anything on the resume to ID my profile.

Slaves2Darkness		2013-04-03 11:49:19 AM

hubiestubert: Lets talk frankly about internal cleanliness: I'm in the "nothing there that matters much" group, but this is still a bit much.

What's next, Boss? Copy of my housekey? Access to my financial accounts? Wanna put a webcam in my bedroom? Want me to keep a poop journal for your perusal at random? Too farking bad.

Pay me for 8 hours a day, get 8 hours a day. What I do with the remaining 16 is my own goddamned business, thank you.

So long as you get paid in Company scrip, that will be just fine. After all, we wouldn't want you wasting your wages on something substandard, right? You get company housing, and superior company products at the company store, so why would you NEED cash?
Seriously, kids...
[lh3.googleusercontent.com image 512x640]

Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah! We are so far past saying it is not an instruction manual that you don't even realize how few "rights" you have. Sorry America, but you were warned and were so pants pissing scared of "OMG! TERROISTS!" that you gave up your rights willingly. Like a freshman girl with three beers in her.

HeartBurnKid		2013-04-03 11:51:25 AM

Donnchadha: jack21221: alwaysjaded: will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook

I wonder if this has ever happened to me. I've been applying for full-time jobs recently, and been getting close to zero call backs, even for jobs I'm qualified for and have a lot of experience in. I have no social media presence at all (no facebook, twitter, google plus, linkedin, myspace, nothing). So I just wonder if they're searching for my name, finding that I don't exist, and ignoring me?

Hopefully that doesn't happen too much. I have a relatively common name and you'd get a ton of hits on facebook for people with my name -- none of them are me, of course. However, even if one of them was me, how would they know for sure? If my hypothetical Facebook was set to "You get to see my picture, but you gotta be my friend to see anything else" they couldn't even double check anything on the resume to ID my profile.

That's why they want your password.

PluckYew		2013-04-03 11:52:03 AM

cman: I can understand if you want to check out and see if your employees are farking around on the job whilst using company computers, but this is a bit far

Bullshiat! Any website is easily blocked from work resources.

They want to see if you're discussing proprietary information or badmouthing your boss. Congress needs to be replaced!

madgonad		2013-04-03 11:53:28 AM

ooochromeooo: If you are forced to give up your password, there's a simple solution. Post a bunch of stuff on Facebook about the protected classes you belong to:

Race
Color
Religion
National origin
Age
Sex
Familial status
Disability status
Veteran status
Genetic information

HR people avoid having this information because if they do, you can make a very strong case that you were terminated or treated differently because of one of them.

The alternative is to keep a second decoy account, or to say that you don't keep one and lock your account down completely so that you are unsearchable.

Yep, social networking sites are chok full of answers to questions that they can't legally ask.

Donnchadha		2013-04-03 11:53:47 AM

HeartBurnKid: Donnchadha: jack21221: alwaysjaded: will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook

I wonder if this has ever happened to me. I've been applying for full-time jobs recently, and been getting close to zero call backs, even for jobs I'm qualified for and have a lot of experience in. I have no social media presence at all (no facebook, twitter, google plus, linkedin, myspace, nothing). So I just wonder if they're searching for my name, finding that I don't exist, and ignoring me?

Hopefully that doesn't happen too much. I have a relatively common name and you'd get a ton of hits on facebook for people with my name -- none of them are me, of course. However, even if one of them was me, how would they know for sure? If my hypothetical Facebook was set to "You get to see my picture, but you gotta be my friend to see anything else" they couldn't even double check anything on the resume to ID my profile.

That's why they want your password.

They'd need to schedule an interview first. There's no way I'd send in a password with my cover letter and resume, and this was about companies chucking the resume at first glance because of a lack of social media presence.

ongbok		2013-04-03 11:55:33 AM

This bill is stupid. If they suspect you of divulging company secrets on Facebook they already have legal remedies to get a court order for your account. This isn't needed. All this is just a backdoor way to claim that you did something so they can go on a fishing expedition to find something to fire you for.

serial_crusher		2013-04-03 11:56:46 AM

hubiestubert: Lets talk frankly about internal cleanliness: I'm in the "nothing there that matters much" group, but this is still a bit much.

What's next, Boss? Copy of my housekey? Access to my financial accounts? Wanna put a webcam in my bedroom? Want me to keep a poop journal for your perusal at random? Too farking bad.

Pay me for 8 hours a day, get 8 hours a day. What I do with the remaining 16 is my own goddamned business, thank you.

So long as you get paid in Company scrip, that will be just fine. After all, we wouldn't want you wasting your wages on something substandard, right? You get company housing, and superior company products at the company store, so why would you NEED cash?
Seriously, kids...
[lh3.googleusercontent.com image 512x640]

I first read that book when I was a kid, and only re-read it this past year. Now that I've got some work experience under my belt, the Federal Government's intra-office memo about bringing your own toilet paper was easily my favorite part. "Please refrain from using old $100 bills. They wreck the plumbing and defacing US currency is still technically illegal."

Gonz		2013-04-03 11:57:25 AM

HotWingConspiracy: Giving out your password is a violation of the Terms of Service. How can they compel someone to break an agreement they've entered in to with an outside party?

Ding ding ding! THIS is the right answer.

sjmcc13		2013-04-03 11:58:28 AM

FTA: "Proponents say that the original bill would open an avenue for possible illegal activity by employees, such as divulging proprietary or consumer information to outsiders through social networks."

They already have these avenues through email, texting, snail mail, ftp, etc. 1 more will not cause that much problems.

Lets just call this what it is, Companies want to filter applicants/employees based on things that are illegal or bad PR to filter on, and are looking for a way to do it on the sly.

cman		2013-04-03 11:58:28 AM

PluckYew: cman: I can understand if you want to check out and see if your employees are farking around on the job whilst using company computers, but this is a bit far

Bullshiat! Any website is easily blocked from work resources.

They want to see if you're discussing proprietary information or badmouthing your boss. Congress needs to be replaced!

Yes, because filter software works 100% of the time for 100% of the things you want to block

wildcardjack		2013-04-03 12:00:51 PM

I'm pretty sure this STATE bill would be in violation of federal HIPA provisions.

serial_crusher		2013-04-03 12:02:14 PM

Donnchadha: HeartBurnKid: Donnchadha: jack21221: alwaysjaded: will just chunk your resume in the trash if you claim you have no Facebook

I wonder if this has ever happened to me. I've been applying for full-time jobs recently, and been getting close to zero call backs, even for jobs I'm qualified for and have a lot of experience in. I have no social media presence at all (no facebook, twitter, google plus, linkedin, myspace, nothing). So I just wonder if they're searching for my name, finding that I don't exist, and ignoring me?

Hopefully that doesn't happen too much. I have a relatively common name and you'd get a ton of hits on facebook for people with my name -- none of them are me, of course. However, even if one of them was me, how would they know for sure? If my hypothetical Facebook was set to "You get to see my picture, but you gotta be my friend to see anything else" they couldn't even double check anything on the resume to ID my profile.

That's why they want your password.

They'd need to schedule an interview first. There's no way I'd send in a password with my cover letter and resume, and this was about companies chucking the resume at first glance because of a lack of social media presence.

I like to look interview candidates up beforehand just so I can have fun by mentioning something from it in the interview. "So, I see you Liked both the book and movie version of The Hunger Games? I'm sorry, but the movie was terrible. We can't hire you."

Most of the guys I've interviewed lately didn't have Facebook accounts or were blocking them. I didn't turn any of them down over it.

HellRaisingHoosier		2013-04-03 12:05:48 PM

somedude210:
if they fire you over refusing a drug test forced upon you without probable cause, you can probably sue them for wrongful termination

if they fire you for not adhering to a clause in your contract saying that you must take a drug test yearly, then you're boned

This is why I hate Libertarians....
They think everything is just magically better if it was put in a contract. How about the fact that somethings shouldn't be allowed to be put into a contract.

bigbadideasinaction		2013-04-03 12:10:53 PM

Steps:

1) Put your marital status/religion on your facebook (or something else protected by your employment law: YMMV)
2) Give them the password
3) If they don't hire you, sue them because they didn't hire you due to finding out information that's illegal to use in a hiring decision. Let them try and prove they didn't know when they explicitly asked for your password.

Gosling		2013-04-03 12:11:55 PM

"Such a request is a violation of Facebook's terms of service, and it is my responsibility to inform Facebook of such requests so that their moderators can take appropriate action against the person who made it, up to and including being banned from the site. It is also my responsibility, as per the terms of service, to immediately change my password if it ever becomes known by a third party."

veive		2013-04-03 12:12:02 PM

cman: I can understand if you want to check out and see if your employees are farking around on the job whilst using company computers, but this is a bit far

If you are competent the network logs will tell you things like this. Then again if you are competent you probably aren't in management.

Quantum Apostrophe		2013-04-03 12:12:12 PM

"Sure, as long as I can have yours as well"

doglover		2013-04-03 12:12:20 PM

HellRaisingHoosier: How about the fact that somethings shouldn't be allowed to be put into a contract.

Just don't sign it.

Also, you have no moral obligation to honor an amoral contract. You sign a contract to kill kids, and you don't, YOU'RE in the right, not the contract bearer.

KellyX		2013-04-03 12:13:16 PM

Gonz: HotWingConspiracy: Giving out your password is a violation of the Terms of Service. How can they compel someone to break an agreement they've entered in to with an outside party?

Ding ding ding! THIS is the right answer.

Why would you want to hire someone who will break agreements with another company and then assume they'll honor an agreement with your company.

somedude210		2013-04-03 12:13:26 PM

HellRaisingHoosier: somedude210:
if they fire you over refusing a drug test forced upon you without probable cause, you can probably sue them for wrongful termination

if they fire you for not adhering to a clause in your contract saying that you must take a drug test yearly, then you're boned

This is why I hate Libertarians....
They think everything is just magically better if it was put in a contract. How about the fact that somethings shouldn't be allowed to be put into a contract.

wait...did you just call me a goddamn libertarian? really? for shame, sir. I"m a commie-socialist-nazi, I am!

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