Password Protection Act - Prohibit employers from gaining access to Faceboo

[techbeck]

New legislation introduced to Congress today seeks to prohibit employers from requiring employees to provide access to personal email accounts, social networking profiles, and other private data as a condition of employment. Introduced by a team of democrats led by Senator Richard Blumenthal, the Password Protection Act would institute financial penalties for employers that discriminate against current or prospective employees who refuse to offer up personal login information. The legislation would not, however, prohibit employers from setting usage policies for company-issued computers.

The bill follows a report published by the Associated Press in March, which detailed its investigation of employer policies requiring applicants to provide access to their Facebook account during the interview process. Shortly thereafter, Senator Blumenthal announced that he was drafting legislation outlawing the practice.

http://www.theverge....facebook-access

[remixedcat]

It's none of any employer's business anyways!!!

[mattking]

Good job (Y)

[The Teej]

Good! It's about time something like this came into play, I can't believe it's gotten this far in the first place.

[cooky560 Veteran]

I'd never work for a company that requires my login details for e-mail or Facebook.

[Arachno 1D]

Did you read the added link from that artice its quiet enligthening

https://raganwald.posterous.com/i-hereby-resign

[(Spork)]

good glad to see this NO company should have that info !

[Detection]

I wouldn't give my password to any employer for any reason, they are personal accounts and sweet FA to do with any company.

If they asked for my password, I would ask for theirs.

[Odom Member]

I wouldn't give my password to any employer for any reason, they are personal accounts and sweet FA to do with any company.

If they asked for my password, I would ask for theirs.

I was thinking the same thing. If they want my password to check me out, I'd ask for theirs as well, so I can do the same. Nonetheless, I would tell them they can forget about my application either way. A company that resorts to such practices in the interview is not one I would want to work for. Users should never have the need to reveal any passwords whatsoever.

[jnelsoninjax]

Where as I applaud this, I still am left asking the most fundamental question: Why the f*** should anyone(employer, perspective employer, etc) care what is posted on FB?! The few exceptions I can see are if you have Top Secret Clearance or deal with confidential documents, things like that, but the average Joe Schoom working for the company or applying to work for a company should never feel that they are compelled to reveal such information. I do not have a Facebook account nor do I ever plan of getting one mostly because of the stupid shi* that people seem to do on FB (posting that they are breaking in somewhere, etc) doesthe average persons IQ drop when they sit in front of a computer and log on to Facebook?

[MidnightDevil]

I agree with everything written here.. agree with the bill, agree with "it's wrong in the first place to even consider the possibility of asking for a password".

I wouldn't want to work for such employers.

[Farstrider]

That a Law had to be passed to prevent "prospective employees" asking for private information in the first place, is the most ridiculous aspect of this fiasco!

[FloatingFatMan]

Simple answer if your employer asks... "You want my passwords? Would you want me to be as free with passwords to YOUR network, too?"

[cooky560 Veteran]

If an employer asked for these passwords, i'd simply say "no", not to mention that anyone who logs into your account (even with your permission) in the UK has violated the computer misuse act 1990.

[+Xinok Subscriber²]

They need to extend this law to cover other institutions as well. There were a few stories of schools forcing students to hand over their Facebook passwords.

[blade1269]

I agree with everything written here.. agree with the bill, agree with "it's wrong in the first place to even consider the possibility of asking for a password".

I wouldn't want to work for such employers.

Now the thing to do is branch this out to the cops.

[neo1911]

Good decision to curb this menace.

[srbeen]

If an employer asked for these passwords, i'd simply say "no", not to mention that anyone who logs into your account (even with your permission) in the UK has violated the computer misuse act 1990.

So then do you go after the employer for discrimination when you don't get the job?

I mean if they provide theirs I'd provide mine... Just sayin'

[MidnightDevil]

They prove their password for professional / work purposes for you to do your tasks. you're providing your personal password for exploratory purposes.

Are you seriously thinking about it?

[cooky560 Veteran]

So then do you go after the employer for discrimination when you don't get the job?

I mean if they provide theirs I'd provide mine... Just sayin'

Right now this isn't an issue, but I'd never accept any contract with such invasive requirements. Or I'd give them a false password

[Linkinfamous]

That a Law had to be passed to prevent "prospective employees" asking for private information in the first place, is the most ridiculous aspect of this fiasco!

Workers don't have as much bargaining power as they used to. Workers aren't organized anymore.

Union membership is decreasing while unemployment is high. Employers can turn the screws. (The US is about due for another workers' rights push, in my opinion. The pendulum is due for a swing back after the past 40 years)