Social Media Password Controversy Involving Employers in the US Gathers More Heat

The Associated Press reporting from Seattle yesterday said another US senator has joined the call for an immediate investigation by the US government of reports that certain employers have been demanding job applicants to reveal their social media usernames and passwords as part of job application requirements.

AP said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York has joined fellow Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut in asking Atty. General Eric Holder to find out whether the password issue violated federal law.

The two senators told news media that they are also asking the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to launch an investigation.

Late last week, Sen. Blumenthal said he was readying a bill that proposes to penalize violators of what he said was invasion of privacy by job interviewers, who insist that applicants surrender personal information to prospective employers, including their Facebook and Twitter passwords, for instance.

Facebook executives have told media following the flood of complaints over the issue that the company is keeping to its long-standing policy of not allowing the sharing of passwords, threatening legal action against violators.

An increasing number of job applicants told media that they withdrew their job applications, rather than reveal their social networking passwords, believing the practice was an invasion of privacy.

Legal observers, as quoted, were saying that the practice may indeed have spread through almost all job interview levels, but admitted that the legality of the practice is still unclear.

There were admissions that applicants for sensitive work positions, particularly with the government and security organizations, have not hesitated in providing more details of their personal and private lives, including their social media passwords in efforts to land desired, high-paying jobs.

About Laurentiu Stan

Laurentiu is a young writer, who seeks to become a big name in the news field. He discovers his passion for writing in primary school and starts with short essays in his mother tongue. In college he begins writing essays in English as a freelancer, being attracted by news reporting. Now he’s the one who brings you the latest news as soon as they happen! He’s a soccer fan, music enthusiast and loves to travel.