Thomas Dalton wrote: > 2009/6/19 Nathan <[email protected]>: > >> http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/06/19/us/AP-US-Internet-Background-Checks.html >> >> New employees, and perhaps current ones (?), are being asked to provide >> details of all web-based accounts, including forums and social networking >> sites. Details are meant to include usernames and passwords. Maybe we should >> have a user category of "Public employees in Bozeman, Montana" just in >> case... I doubt this turns into a new wave of intrusiveness, at least in the >> near future, but its disturbing even as an isolated case. For the legal >> types, any caselaw on whether employers (public or private) can demand this >> sort of information without violating the "implied right to privacy"? >> > "[The city] says it won't hold it against anyone for refusing to provide it." > > If it's not compulsory, I don't see a problem, as long as that fact is > made clear to people. I don't see the point in asking if it isn't > compulsory, though, unless they intend to trick people into thinking > it is. Who would voluntarily give up that information? The success of endless scams where people give up passwords and other personal information is as much proof as we need to show that people would voluntarily give up the information. Colour these requests with an air of apparent authority and the rate of compliance will go up significantly.
While it's likely true that the city cannot make these requirements compulsory, there's more than one kind of compulsory. A person who fails to give this information may be seen as not a team-player, and suffer consequences accordingly. Ec _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
