Friday, June 19, 2009

Taking Invasion of Privacy to the Next Level...

I am almost at a loss for words, but might be able to find a few choice ones for the city of Bozeman, Montana. It is known that employers can check out the web for information about you and there is even an industry that will help you spruce up your online presence.

Okay, public info is public. Fair enough. But Bozeman now wants to not only see your private profiles on sites like facebook and Myspace, but for you to GIVE THEM YOUR PASSWORDS to "any Internet-based chat rooms, social clubs or forums, to include, but not limited to: Facebook, Google, Yahoo, YouTube.com, MySpace, etc." (and I bet they want your Adult Friend Finder and eHarmony accounts also!)

That does not just give them access to my info, but the info of all my friends as well.

Just don't tell them? Say you don't have an account? Well, lying on a job app is a firable offense.

And you are in a Catch 22 since it is against the Terms of Service of many sites to divulge your password to others! They say they are trying to judge your character by asking you to break the a contract with a social networking site...but if you don't tell them, you are breaking law! WTF?!?

And of course many of these sites have associated email accounts and calendars with them. Giving out your password potentially lets people read all your old emails, doctor appointments, vacations, hot dates, etc.

I thought it was bad when employers wanted to start doing credit checks...better throw away your diary...they might want to take a look at that as well!

8 comments:

MinnesotaChick said...

That's not right.......

Why would they need all that information?

kkdither said...

I don't believe it will ever hold up in a court of law. That is way too extreme.

I posted a blog awhile back about holding some employees to a higher standard than the general public.

Is it fair? I don't always think it is... Being in that category, it does make me nervous, even when I joke around with all of you here about our "wild" parties, etc.

When you work for the public or the government, everything you do is suspect. Your job is always on the line. They can't trace me, I look nothing like my avatar! ;>

Karrie said...

Oh sure, while I'm at it, why don't I just provide them with my medical records, blood and hair samples and my bank records?

SER said...

KK...They can't trace me, I look nothing like my avatar!

I look just like mine, I should be more careful.

That stuff is way tooo crazy. There is a company, can't remember where, you and your family cannot smoke. They can random test any family member at any time, if they fail, you get fire!

MinnesotaChick said...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31446037/ns/technology_and_science-security/

Looks like they backed off on it.

hale-bopp said...

Wow! The power of the internets!

The line that the policy "appears to have exceeded that which is acceptable to our community" bothers me. In other words, they see nothing wrong with it EXCEPT that the community didn't like it. If only they could convince everyone it was okay...stay vigilant.

OrbsCorbs said...

This Internet thing makes the powers-that-be very nervous. All that freedom. All that free speech. All that exchange of ideas and knowledge. No, no, we can't have that . . .

Huck Finn said...

Well ya got your prissy clean cut straight laced persona, and then u got your wild haired one. Give em the priss.