Facebook Serious About User Privacy

[image error]As more and more cases of privacy issues involving social media accounts come to light, the world's biggest social media player is becoming more vocal about its view on the situation.

Facebook has said that lawsuits may be an option should employers or others invade the privacy of its users. This warning comes as the media has reported on more employees having issues with employers over their accounts and job applicants oftentimes being asked to provide their social media habits to potential employers.

In comments March 23 on Facebook's Privacy Page, Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan noted "This practice undermines the privacy expectations and the security of both the user and the user's friends. It also potentially exposes the employer who seeks this access to unanticipated legal liability.

"(W)e don't think it's the right thing to do," Egan continued. "But it also may cause problems for the employers that they are not anticipating. For example, if an employer sees on Facebook that someone is a member of a protected group (e.g. over a certain age, etc.) that employer may open themselves up to claims of discrimination if they don't hire that person."

For those unfamiliar with the process, reports show more and more individuals are being asked for their Facebook passwords or told they need to "friend" managers at the time they apply for a position.

Egan went on to state that the social media giant takes its users' privacy seriously. "We'll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users, whether by engaging policymakers or, where appropriate, by initiating legal action, including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges."

As Facebook's user agreement states when one signs up for an account, "You will not share your password, (or in the case of developers, your secret key), let anyone else access your account, or do anything else that might jeopardize the security of your account."

Along with Facebook, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also given its two cents on the matter.

In a post on the ACLU Web site, attorney Catherine Crump remarked, "It's an invasion of privacy for private employers to insist on looking at people's private Facebook pages as a condition of employment or consideration in an application process.  People are entitled to their private lives. You'd be appalled if your employer insisted on opening up your postal mail to see if there was anything of interest inside. It's equally out of bounds for an employer to go on a fishing expedition through a person's private social media account."

Given the scrutiny that some job applicants have been placed under with their social media accounts, several states have proposed legislation to prohibit employers from seeking access to an applicant's social profiles, including Maryland and Illinois.

So, would you be comfortable giving up your Facebook log-in information if a current or potential employer sought it?

If the answer is yes, would you be okay with an employer or one you might work for reading your regular mail that comes from the post office?

If the answer to that question is no, then what's the difference between reading of online and offline mail?

Photo credit: socialexcerpts.com

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