ARTICLE · 22 APRIL 2012

Use and abuse of the social networking site Facebook

DibbsBarker

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Facebook has restricted an employer's inappropriate access to prospective and current employees' Facebook accounts.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Mark Curran

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The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has commended recent moves by the social networking site Facebook to restrict employer's access to prospective and current employees' Facebook accounts. The ATCU said that "unions have been increasingly concerned about moves by employers to delve into their employees' personal lives".

Facebook's chief privacy officer said the company had witnessed employers seeking inappropriate access to people's Facebook profiles or private information. The most concerning practices were the reported incidences of employers asking prospective or current employees to reveal their passwords. (It is now a violation of Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to share or solicit a Facebook password).

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