City Asks Job Applicants For Internet Passwords

[Purveyor]

(06-19) 08:21 PDT Helena, Mont. (AP) --

Job applicants with the city of Bozeman are finding that their private Internet discussions and pictures may not be so private after all.

The city is asking job seekers for the user names and passwords to Internet social networking or Web groups to which they belong. The decision is sparking an outcry from those who say the policy goes way too far.

The issue has spawned hundreds of comments on Web forums and sharp criticism from legislators and the ACLU.

"I liken it to them saying they want to look at your love letters and your family photos," said Amy Cannata, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana. "I think this policy certainly crosses the privacy line."

The city argues that it only uses the information to verify application information — and says it won't hold it against anyone for refusing to provide it. City officials say such checks can be useful, especially when hiring police officers and others in a position of public trust.

MORE...

AP: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/19/national/a071457D52.DTL

[Hello_Kitty]

1. Oh sure they won't hold it against people who refuse to provide them.

Suuuuuure. :eyes: And you know there will be enough applicants who WILL provide the passwords, either because they're desperate for a job or figure "I have nothing to hide".

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kadie]

7. Welcome to DU domitay!

:hi:

[marmar]

3. WTF? What century and country are we in?

We've slipped into the rabbit hole, and we can't get out........

[Zenlitened]

4. They'll also need your ATM card for a few days, plus PIN.

If necessary, in the judgment of the supervisory board, they may also need to cut you open and do a bit of exploratory surgery.

Just to see if your internal organs have been up to anything undesirable.

I mean, really... what's the big deal? This is a job IN BOZEMAN, people. Bozeman! Think of the riches! The glamor! The endless opportunities that await you, if you can just get your foot* in the door... in Bozeman!!!

*Actual foot may vary. All feet become property of Bozeman city supervisors. Odds of winning your foot back depend on total number of entries. For complete rules, just shut up and stop asking questions. We know what's best for you. Or else.

[zipplewrath]

5. Absurd

having passwords allows them to "be you". Not on your life. You want access, I can authorize you to see my profile, or access much of my communication. But I'm not about to let you "be me" anymore than I'm going to give you my credit cards for the weekend.

[ljm2002]

6. Utterly outrageous...

...and unconstitutional.

Assholes.

[Echo In Light]

8. Yes. However, if suckers agree and go along...n/t

[Kadie]

9. What next?

Your banking account numbers and passwords? Keys to your house?

whoosh...

That is taking snooping to a whole new level.

[JPZenger]

10. I was in police office when they laughed at applicant

I happened to be in a police office, when the Chief was laughing about an applicant for a police office position who admitted on his application that he did marijuna and cocaine in the past. I guess no one had ever admitted it before on the application.

[sofa king]

11. Hey! I've got an idea: lie about it.

Just go in like you're George Bush and you've just murdered an entirely innocent wedding party based on information from people you tortured to death.

"Facebook? We don't do Facebook."

"No, that's not my picture there at the profile 'Sofa King' on facebook, and the person who told you that is a sodomite."

"Well, maybe I do have a profile on Facebook. But I don't."

"No, you can't have my password to my Facebook profile, because it's privileged information. And no, that isn't admitting that I do have a Facebook profile."

"You're asking me why my picture is on the Internet next to my name on Facebook. I believe I have already fully answered that question in the recent past. Next question, please."

"After stealing this job by having my buddies stop a full review of the resumes I tampered with, I believe I have a mandate to fire you and the entire Human Resources department. Oh, and I blew your pension on AIG. See you in court to contest your unemployment and COBRA."

Final edit: You can be outraged all you want, but they've been able to stick a finger in your pee for twenty years. Privacy in America is and always has been an empty catch-word designed to puff up faint hearts, while being violated at every opportunity and for every reason, the most common one being the pursuit of money.

[tech3149]

12. My response, "keep your freakin job and Oh BTW FOAD!" n/t

[SoCalDem]

13. Love letter analogy is not correct

When a love letter is sent, it's in a sealed envelope, sent to a specific person. Once read, that person has the option of destroying it, or saving it. The saving of it, means that someone , someday, may read it.

Posting "stuff" on the internet is PUBLIC, especially if it's done from a workplace computer.

Don't post anything online that you would not want your Gramma to read on the front page of her newspaper.

If you get a steamy letter, and would never want it read by anyone, you can burn it, and it's gone forever..not so with the web. If it's ever been posted, it can resurface, because you have NO way of knowing how many people may have copied/saved it.