Facebook May Sue Employers Who Ask For Password Information

Company's CPO says employers may receive discrimination lawsuits.

As reports continue to leak of employers, colleges and government agencies requesting the Facebook login information of prospective applicants, the social media giant has not taken too kindly to the reports.

The Next Web is reporting that Facebook may take legal action against any employer that is found to engage in such practices.

Facebook released a statement saying that the practice “undermines the privacy expectations and the security of both the user and the user’s friends.” They also said that these action could bring upon "unprecedented legal liability."

The site also pointed to their Statement of Rights and Responsibilities which made sharing or the solicitation of a password a violation.

Earlier this month, several reports came out that employers were asking not only for passwords, but using an alternate means of gaining your information  — sending you a friend request and hoping you would accept.

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Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Elin Egan said that there are many risks for employers who commit these law-breaking acts, especially lawsuits based on discrimination.

"Employers also may not have the proper policies and training for reviewers to handle private information. If they don’t -- and actually, even if they do -- the employer may assume liability for the protection of the information they have seen or for knowing what responsibilities may arise based on different types of information (e.g. if the information suggests the commission of a crime)."

The website said they plan to engage policymakers in this fight.

What do you think of Facebook's move to back any and all of their users?