14 Jul UK Data Protection Authorities Tell Bosses To Stop Snooping On Employees’ Facebook Pages
Leaders of Europe’s major data protection authorities said on Thursday that employers should avoid accessing their workers social media profiles to screen them on a general basis. They also noted that employees must not be forced to accept Facebook friend requests from bosses.
The statement was made during a guidance session by the Article 29 Working Party, a group comprised of representatives from EU’s national data guardians together with the British Information Commissioner’s Office.
Privacy advocates are concerned that personal lives online are affecting people’s employment prospects. It is also known that workers have been rejected or fired because of inappropriate status updates online.
The Article 29 Working Party is vocal about their stand on the issue, as strict new data protection rules will be implemented next year. The new rule includes costly fines for companies who abuse personal data. Moreover, the new privacy law will continue to apply even after Brexit.
Source: The Telegraph