Is Asking Applicants For Facebook Sign In Details Acceptable?

Due to the ever increasing presence of social media it’s no wonder it has influence and has played a big role in the recruitment industry. The likes of LinkedIn means businesses are now able to look at and scrutinise candidates profiles. From this however is a new, somewhat disturbing trend; apparently businesses are now asking applicants for their Facebook login details.

After all what better way is there to find out about a candidate by examining their social media profiles?

But is it a step too far?

Patrick Stafford for Smart Company looks at why employers are now asking candidates to reveal Facebook passwords.

Stafford says in the United States there are claims circulating stating that businesses are actually requesting login details from applicants. One case for example was Robert Collins from Maryland who was asked to give his password during an interview with a government department.

This particular incident caused a stir and has now sparked some involvement from the American Civil Liberties Union. Another case saw New Yorker Justin Bassett, who abruptly ended a job interview after he was asked for his Facebook login details. Apparently these incidents are no one offs, here are said to be more.

AP notes:

"But the whole thing is also, more importantly, worrying. It's striking how deep the divide can be between our conceptions of online privacy: To me, an interviewer asking for my password - Facebook or any other - would be a fairly shocking imposition. To Justin Bassett's interviewer, though, it was a question like any other."

Stafford says “this is a fascinating trend especially as social media plays more of a role in recruitment”. This trend does bring about questions of privacy and legality. Should it be legal for employers to ask for such private passwords? 

(Image by sherife22 at flickr)