>Big Bozeman Wants To Watch You

Last Updated on: 24th April 2012, 10:18 pm

>Here’s a scary policy that I’m happy to say died a quick and merciful death.

The city of Bozeman, Montana decided they wanted to have a real good look at applicants for city jobs. Included in the background check was a request for applicants to tell them about all social networking and web groups they were affiliated with, complete with asking for usernames and passwords. I beg your pardon? That is a huge privacy invasion. I personally wouldn’t recommend working for, or living in, a city with this low of a regard for privacy. Who knows what they would try next.

Thankfully, after being slammed by phone calls, emails, and all manner of internet outrage, city officials have rescinded the policy and apologized. But I still don’t trust them. just read this interview with the city’s attorney. He also said in other news stories that they would just stop asking for usernames and passwords, but then demand that city applicants add the city as a friend. Um no. Not good enough.

I have to wonder if the people who created this policy don’t use the series of tubes, so somehow just don’t get it. But I think someone who advises them does get it, and they’re the one who really scares me.

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