The Back Gate posed an interesting question to Texas prison staff and got some animated responses: "Is TDCJ violating your privacy rights by requiring you give them your Facebook password?" Most respondents seemed to be against it and some suspected the agency of ulterior motives: E.g., "This has less to do with keeping us
from being friends with former offenders and everything to with keeping
an eye on what we might be saying about our own administrations."
Whaddya think? Justified security measure or snooping beyond the purview of a government employer? There are a lot of interesting angles from many different perspectives on that one. How would you prioritize the conflicting values and interests aligned on the question?
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19 comments:
If employers away with requiring FB passwords claiming some sort of security concern related to the job, where does it stop? Will the employee be asked for all their email account passwords? What about their postal mail?. Wouldn't TDCJ need to monitor all correspondence to and from employees home if the concern is really about relationships with inmates? I could see perhaps giving up your privacy if you work for the CIA or such but this is going too far for any other employer, TDCJ included.
Why not give them a copy of your house key too? (sarcasm)
think i'd have to tell them they are nuts....and that they had 30 sec to convice me as to why i should not BEAT THEM TO A BLOODY PULP for trying to VIOLATE my CIVIL RIGHTS!
not to mention the crime of trying to force me to violate the TOS of the sites which these days the FEDS say is a FEDERAL CRIME!
My department's administration hacked my FB account and gave me a formal reprimand for a comment I made that they "felt" was about them. Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't, but I was appalled that my privacy was violated. Their claim was that they had received an anonymous complaint that I was denegrating the administration publicly. Since my FB pages privacy settings are set to the strictest standards, only a select few can see my posts. Not exactly sure how that makes my posts "public." But they "felt" that I violated the unwritten policy of the Department. Legal action is currently pending.
totally disagree with employer's insistance on obtaining the passwords for personal accounts. However, its not necessary for your account be hacked to get in a tight spot. Just until a "friend" prints out a copy of a statement about your place of employement that you have made and your are pretty much in a precarious situation.
The line is pretty thin on this one. Anyway, like all issues regarding employers and their insistence on monitoring their employees' social media activities. Get off their backs for chrissakes!
Just another method of suppressing free speech. Why even bother having a Facebook account in the first place? Meanwhile, back to anonyblogging...
I didn't know TDC had joined the ranks of those demanding social networking passwords. I'm only surprised because most TDC employees I know are at least a decade behind when it comes to technology. ;-)
I would never turn over my passwords. I would offer to log in and let them see my social networks, except for the risk of key loggers, which would effectively give them my passwords.
If this ever came up for me, I'd dig in my heels and demand a warrant. There is no case law allowing such an intrusion.
I don't know any TDCJ employee who would have the time to monitor this, no one at our unit has mentioned this but it is unconstitutional.
Is there an AG opinion authorizing this Draconian invasion of privacy; or is it just another "shoot from the hip"ruling from the current TDCJ General Counsel?
Are these made public; or is it just subject to review by some sycophant of Bozarth's making $75K a year?
This needs to be brought before the Legislature ASAP!
They may have my password, once I'm standing over their dead bodies.
The people have spoken in their comments here. Are the TDCJ employees unified in saying no or are some caving in?
I have a client who is a TDCJ employee. She was asked for her password and opted to get rid of her Facebook account instead as she needs the job more than the aggravation of fighting TDCJ.
What about those that sub-contract with TDCJ? I thought this post was a joke at first. I cannot freaking believe this. I am truly amazed. How in the hell can it be so serious of a security threat? Maybe Senator Whitmire needs to give up his FB password. Could we get these passwords via Open Records Act?
Hook em has the answer .Just delete your Facebook account . It might take FB a few weeks and they reportedly store data of former users and sell it . If Facebook loses business over this new idea of demanding of your password by employers and people simply opting not to have a Facebook account. Facebook will take legal action because it is losing money that it needs for it new share holders. Facebook is now publicize traded . Vote with your virtual feet and leave Facebook . That will solve the problem. Facebook will mount a legal challenge due to it losing its sole source of income . You the user . FB is a publicly trade corporation .It has to make lots of money for it's new share holders .this might be interesting .
Why should TDCJ care if a boss or rank talks with a from convict who is no longer incarcerated or under state supervision ? It is none of their business what a employee does in their own time as long as it is not illegal . Many bosses and rank and non security employees have relatives incarcerated in TDCJ ! Should they be told not to have any thing to do with their family ?
Anyone who would give up their Facebook password to an employer is an idiot. What's next, the password to your bank accounts? Besides, it a violation of Facebook terms of service to share your password.
The agency says "offically" that no one has been required to give up passwords, or has been disciplined. Well, we have a long list of people who can show proof otherwise. It's another example of the head not knowing what the hands are doing. The units are acting independent of the hierarchy and claiming no knowledge. Today the TDCJ PIO (public info officer) resigned for reporting misconduct by the admin to us and Senator Whitmire. She was first scolded for even giving us media releases, then came bogus charges and retaliation. She opted to resign this morning. All tied in to this facebook issue. TDCJ has no concept of constitutional rights for anyone. CHeck out our updated story at www.thebackgate.org! thanks !!
The Backgate
Michelle Lyons, the TDCJ PIO, has resigned under pressure by Bryan Collier. The Backgate and Texas Justice Dot Org have stories on it. Some of it has to do with this facebook business.
as if tdcj administration isnt corrupt enough.. they need to worry about hiring quality people not whos on a social media page. this is the kinda shit ya get when the good ole boy inbread system matures to the point where the idiots are running the system... hey heres an idia rick perry and the rest of you idiots running this place woory about the lifes and well being of your employees and less about being big brother
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