Potential Employers Demanding Facebook Logins
Webcast Q&A: Sunday, 1 April 2012, Question 3
In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on 1 April 2012, I answered a question on potential employers demanding Facebook logins.
Should employers ask applicants for their Facebook logins and passwords? More employers are asking job applicants for their Facebook logins and passwords as part of a background check. Of course, applicants can decline, in which case they might not be considered for the job. Should employers be asking for this information? Is it proper to want to check on the online activities of potential employees? Is that an invasion of privacy? How should someone respond if asked by a potential employer?
My Answer, In Brief: For an employer to ask for your Facebook login and password is a serious invasion of privacy, breach of security, and display of distrust. An employer concerned about the online activities of its employees can and should use other methods.
Tags: Career, Contracts, Law, Law, Privacy, Work
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Relevant Links
- Denver Post: Privacy red flag raised as more job applicants asked to turn over Facebook passwords
- Facebook: Protecting Your Passwords and Your Privacy
- Wiseguy Pictures Short Video: Facebook Ruins Job Interview
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About Philosophy in Action Radio
I'm Dr. Diana Hsieh. I'm a philosopher specializing the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My dissertation defended moral responsibility and moral judgment against the doubts raised by Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Wednesday evenings, I interview an expert guest about a topic of practical importance.
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