14 DAY TRIAL // With Facebook being a part of everyone's lives these days, it's becoming increasingly common for employers or prospective employers to ask for passwords or access to Facebook accounts. When looking for a job or trying to keep one, you may find yourself complying with that request.
Facebook is taking a stand and says that it will do all it can to stop the practice. It's also explaining to users that they do have rights and that they shouldn't be forced to reveal their private information to anyone they don't want to.
"If you are a Facebook user, you should never have to share your password, let anyone access your account, or do anything that might jeopardize the security of your account or violate the privacy of your friends," Facebook writes.
"We have worked really hard at Facebook to give you the tools to control who sees your information," it says.
This is why, Facebook says, it made this an explicit violation of its Statements of Rights and Responsibilities, Facebook's terms of service. Of course, few people read and even fewer obey the terms of service of most sites.
But this gives Facebook the power to terminate the accounts of any companies that engage in this practice, if it finds itself in such a position.
"As a user, you shouldn’t be forced to share your private information and communications just to get a job. And as the friend of a user, you shouldn’t have to worry that your private information or communications will be revealed to someone you don’t know and didn’t intend to share with just because that user is looking for a job," Facebook also said.
It's unclear how willing Facebook will be to enforce its SRR and what exactly are its powers. But the company says it's prepared to take legal action in cases like this, if the need may be.
It's also warning companies that engage in this that they're opening themselves up to more risks than they may be aware. Access to private data, be it on Facebook or anywhere else, is regulated in most countries, at least the free ones.
Companies may be forced to protect the privacy of the data they uncover, or, conversely, they may be obligated to report illegal activities for which they become liable as well.