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Earlier this week I saw an article on CNETNews.com about the city of Bozeman, Montana and how it requires job applicants to hand over the user names and passwords to their social networking sites and other internet-based sites like Facebook, MySpace, Google and Yahoo, so the city could do a complete and thorough background check. This practice has been in place with the city of Bozeman for several years … until yesterday.
According to today’s edition of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the city has suspended the practice. City Manager Chris Kukulski said the city “appears to have exceeded that which is acceptable to our community.” Kukulski added, “We appreciate the concern many citizens have expressed regarding this practice and apologize for the negative impact this issue is having on the city of Bozeman.”
Sorry, but I have to call B.S. on that statement. The city and its citizens have been aware of this policy and have accepted it for several years. Only since the news went viral and international did the city reconsider. Not because the townsfolk suddenly thought it was a bad idea. The negative publicity over a questionable hiring requirement stirrred this pot and Bozeman wanted to stop the bleeding.
Is it a bad policy? I think so. People should have a certain expectation of privacy when it comes to their social networking and online activities. Requiring applicants to provide their user names and passwords (which is a violation of Facebook and others’ terms of service agreements) is tantamount to requiring applicants to have surveillance cameras installed in their’ residences. It is an invasion of privacy.
I understand and respect the city’s intent, which was to fully vet potential employees to hopefully avoid embarrassing surprises, but they went a bit too far. The city said they have merely suspended the policy - not completely abondoned it pending “a more comprehensive evaluation.”
So, stay tuned. Until then, what are you thoughts? Was the city doing the right thing or did they overstep their bounds?
