Filed under: Security, Web services, Social Software
City of Bozeman requires social logins and passwords in exchange for job
Federal law states that you can't ask about religion or marital status when interviewing you for a job, but both of those things are conveniently available in most Facebook profiles. Added to which, giving a prospective employer all your logins and passwords gives them access to direct and private messages, and in the case of most social networks, indirect access to the information of other people who never granted the city access. The whole thing violates just about every social network's Terms of Service, and just generally feels slimy.
In an interview with local news, the city's attorney says it isn't "trying to find out all kinds of information about the person that we're not able to use or shouldn't use in the hiring process."
Current job listings for Bozeman include a Water/Sewer technician so, presumably, with a high school diploma and a clean Facebook record, you could get hired to dig around in something that smells almost as bad as this hiring policy.
[via BoingBoing]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kingabraham3 said 6:20PM on 6-18-2009
if i'm applying to work for the CIA, then maybe we can talk about passwords, but anything short of that, i'll see you in court. I hope they get there asses sued.
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eppyjerk said 7:09PM on 6-18-2009
If your quote is correct in the first paragraph, they are not asking for your user id and password, they are asking for which sites you are a member of. Still would not list these things, but it's not as bad as presented here.
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Rich said 7:09PM on 6-18-2009
In the background check paper work it asks for password.
http://www.bozeman.net/bozeman/humanResource/forms/Background_Check_Form_MASTER.pdf
Erik Sagen said 5:21PM on 6-19-2009
This is an easy answer, just put down: "I am on the internets." That takes care of everything imaginable.
Having visited Bozeman this does not surprise me in the least.
Bryan Price said 12:34AM on 6-19-2009
Let's not forget all of your private emails as well.
Epic. Fail.
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CmpsdNoMore said 10:16AM on 6-19-2009
Maybe they just mean a password to access the page and not your personal password?
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Generic said 4:45AM on 6-20-2009
Do you have your own home-built social networking site, because last time I checked all social networks give you a one password option to access everything.
This also means they cans send messages in your name and delete all your data either deliberately or by mistake.
Another thing, does the system have safeguards so that your data doesn't get abused. I think the people who want to control your life skipped this one in their paperwork they ask you to fill. They did so by asking you to consensually give your passwords/user names.
DarthNinja said 10:16AM on 6-19-2009
Next they kill you and replace you with a low-paid look alike.
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joshua Beyer said 12:37PM on 6-19-2009
I live in Livingston(20 miles away) and work in bozeman this town has many retarded practices. Their gas mains blow up( google it, took out a lot of buildings in the middle of downtown), they pander to tourism in a mewling groveling way ( yellowstone club is near hear so they suck up to the elitests), and recently banned traffic cams for "privacy issues ( but they can snoop your social network profiles WTF). Ill quote the Joker this once...."This town needs an ENEMA".
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tehSharkness said 7:10PM on 6-19-2009
Man, the R Bar blows up, then the City Government starts acting 1984 on us. If this continues, MT might have the two opposite ends of the political spectrum. The Radical Liberals in Missoula, and the Ultra Conservatives in Bozeman. CatGriz is the new Cold War!
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Nichole Boseman said 3:03PM on 6-24-2009
funny, expecially since Bozeman can be a play of german for 'wicked man' lol...
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Kathy McNally said 8:53AM on 7-27-2009
This town needs to be exposed! Let the American people know what is going on. Call 60 minutes to expose this story on TV. If they won't do it call another and then another. Post on the internet. Get this town exposed!!
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