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Thread: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    curiously, the US mainstream media hasn't reported this story ...

    from

    (snip)"How anything you've EVER said on the internet could be seen by employers as Feds approve firm that dishes dirt on applicants

    Company keeps information on its records for SEVEN YEARS

    Uses special software to track down applicants' online pseudonyms

    Means social media postings will become regular part of job application process

    Government rules company doesn't breach regulations

    By Fiona Roberts

    The Federal Trade Commission has approved a controversial firm which scours social media sites to check on job applicants. It means anything you've ever said in public on sites including Facebook, Twitter and even Craigslist could be seen by your would-be employer. The Washington-based commission has ruled the firm, Social Intelligence Corporation, complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act - even though it keeps the results of its searches on file for seven years.

    It raises the frightening prospect of any social media posting, even it's years old or was meant as a joke, being used in background checks. Applicants who use online pseudonyms aren't safe, either - the firm uses special software to link those nicknames with real, offline names known to employers.

    One applicant found himself out of the running for a job after being branded racist because he once joined a Facebook group called 'I shouldn't have to press one for English. We are in the United States. Learn the language.' Social Intelligence Corp scours everything from social networking sites, such as Facebook, to video and picture sharing websites as well as blogs and wikis.(snip)

    (snip)Its chief operating officer, Geoffrey Andrews, said: 'We are not... building a “database” on individuals that will be evaluated each time they apply for a job and potentially could be used adversely even if they have cleaned up their profiles.'
    One of the reports, released to Forbes magazine, flagged an applicant for 'demonstrating potentially violent behaviour' because he'd posted a photograph of him holding a gun on his Facebook account. Another was flagged for 'illegal activity' after putting an advert on Craigslist searching for the drug Oxycontin. So far the company says it has found 'negative' online postings in up to 20 per cent of applicants it's been asked to investigate. (snip)

    (snip)"The reports only take into account 'job-threatening' characteristics - such as criminal activity - and does not include personal information, such as sexuality or religion, which an employee legally cannot see.

    Applicants can also dispute the report's findings, and the offending record will be deleted if it is found to be incorrect. Mr Andrews told Forbes: 'I like to think we are providing a service not just by screening for employers, but in helping to protect job applicants by creating a standard process for online background checks and a service that presents them with reports on negative material.' (snip)

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    Another good reason why I don't use them.

    I have one Facebook account and one MySpace account. The MySpace is dead isn't it. As for Facebook all the meaningless jabber became so annoying that I have closed of contacts from it. You have to message me directly to reach me. If their going to do that then the just send email.

    Now if this company wants to look into my other habits (political, firearms, camping, how to, furniture, Google maps) they are in for a loooooooooooooooooooong fruitless search. Care to guess how common ArmySGT is as a screen name on the net? My first and last name are so common, I have to use my middle initial, so as to not be bothered by collection agencies.

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    Apparently there are other "Kellydancer" personas online and one I found is an equestrian (I don't ride horses). In fact all of my login names (not here)have many people using them. If I Google my real name all that shows up are various drive-in photos I've posted and a few things I've written, such as on Amazon or other places. Nothing offensive.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    ^^^ well, the kicker will be that, just like credit reports, it's very possible that data retrieved under the screen names of a different ArmySGT or Kellydancer will wind up being added to the report. And again like credit reports, it will be the responsibility of the original ArmySGT and Kellydancer to find out what IS contained in their Social Intelligence Corp. report ... to dispute anything that isn't correct ... and to follow up to assure that the incorrect info was actually deleted. Failure to 'pay attention' may mean that some 'damaging' erroneous content may be provided to prospective employers which in turn costs you a new job without knowing the reason why !!!

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    But... if they can't actually prove it's you, how can you prove to them that it isn't? It's also VERY subjective of them to say what is or is not "negative material." After all, they are not simply gathering blocks of text... they are looking at images and "classifying" them. Also not sure how they really get our REAL names unless using a site like Facebook (which I don't). As for Twitter... I know what I say is public domain, and I could give a rats ass who reads it or what they think :p Odd though that someone like, IDK, our current President, might have been flagged using a system like this. Can an employee run a check on their manager/CEO and demand they be removed if "negative material" is found?

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    Fraid not.

    Well ok partially true.
    If they are piecing together a profile based on Ones net activity, first they would absolutely need to know Ones net personas. So If your Melonie Melons, a trademarked name, that can be traced to a specific individual.... Yes.

    Otherwise the perspective employer is at my mercy. They can only go in the direction I point them to. Sure they can look at my Facebook. That would suck since I have not logged on since April. The Myspace Page would be racier but, is not tied to my name in a lazy mans searchable manner. That wouldn't give them alot either since I haven't used that since 2008.

    They could look up every ArmySGT, in the whole of the WWW, but with 50,000 to choose from; they would have to admit, most of their data would be fraudulent. Since they cannot use any means to coerce an ISP to release real names and identifiers like a governmental body can, the data would always be suspect. Because the data is suspect this allows a person in our litigious society to come after them for defamation, libel, and loss of income. An employer would be crazy to use this dubious "Service".

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    Veteran Member AngelKing's Avatar
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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    I bet this is your facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?=743264506


    Edit: Just kidding.

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    I would like to know how they trace a nom de plume to the correct author.

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    I would like to know how they trace a nom de plume to the correct author.

    An employer would be crazy to use this dubious "Service".

    Sarge's point is valid that there really isn't any 100% certain method to identify the correct author. But on the flip side, there isn't any 100% certain method for a person to prove that a 'damaging' listing isnt legitimate.

    As to employers, if they are able to simply allow any resume' that turns up a 'damaging' listing in the waste basket and never inform the applicant of the reason they were not hired, it's no 'skin off their butts' to play it safe and hire a different candidate who doesn't have any 'damaging' listings.

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    Quote Originally Posted by AngelKing View Post
    I bet this is your facebook:


    Edit: Just kidding.
    Wanna put up a screen shot? I don't like social networking enough to open it even for a laugh.

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    This is kinda scary. The prevalence of using credit scores for non-credit checks (like employment and insurance) and social security number checks already bothers me, but this is way over the top.

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    Default Re: FTC approves Social Intelligence Corp. for employee 'screenings'

    Fwiw, there does appear to be workarounds, due to requirement that the agency be in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (ie. they can not "friend" someone to see private posts, as well as some other stipulations). It seems that community based websites will need to revamp their models though.
    Quote Originally Posted by markx View Post
    I'd have to have a "4 simease twin strippers gave me head and then lite themselves on fire" story to blow anybody's mind here.

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