A new hiring practice has come to light, and it’s got many privacy advocates unnerved. It’s widely known and accepted that many companies looking for new employees may search for a job candidate’s profile on Facebook or other social media. But recently, some companies have been asking for job seekers’ usernames and passwords.
The implications of such a practice is obvious for job seekers. However, what is unknown is whether the practice is legal. Facebook has entered the debate, warning employers to not request username and passwords, as it is an invasion of privacy that could potentially open employers to discrimination lawsuits. Coincidentally for job seekers, it’s against Facebook’s terms of use to divulge your username and password.
