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Schumer Wants To Know If Your Boss's Facebook-Prying Is Legal
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 25, 2012
Modified Mar 25, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 25, 2012
Modified Mar 25, 2012
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Perhaps to protect future protégés from sexxxy scorn, Senator Chuck Schumer is asking the Justice Department to investigate the legality of the recent practice of employers obtaining employees' Facebook passwords. The AP reports that Schumer, along with Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, specifically want to know if it violates the Stored Communications Act or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Sadly, expressions like SMH, ROTFL, and "Amazeballs" remain legal.
In a statement, Schumer said "it is vital that all individuals be allowed to determine for themselves what personal information they want to make public." This is especially important when looking for a job, "when all the power is on one side of the fence." Presumably Attorney General Eric Holder will get around to giving Schumer an answer when he's finished eviscerating the rule of law.
Facebook isn't keen on employers prying into people's profiles either. The company released a statement saying, "we don’t think it’s the right thing to do," before taking a swan dive into a giant vat of our personal information.
Tagged
big brother
chuck schumer
doj
privacy
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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