Sen. Schumer Protecting Facebook Privacy

Washington, DC (WIBX) - New York Senator Charles Schumer, along with Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, is asking the U.S. Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate the practice of employers asking job applicants to hand over information previously assumed to be private, namely passwords to social networking sites.

Defended by employers as getting information that is part of the interview process, Schumer says that photos and personal messages are no one else's business, least of all an employer who could potentially refuse to hire someone based on religious preferences or personal expectations, such as getting married or having a baby.

The senators have asked the Justice Department to review whether these practices violate privacy laws.  If they do not, Schumer and Blumenthal say that they will draft legislation to make it illegal.