Germany to prevent Facebook checks (pre-employment)

Ever thought twice about posting a party picture on Facebook, fearing it could someday hurt your chance at a dream job?

A new German law is supposed to solve the problem by making it illegal for prospective employers to spy on applicants' private postings.

The draft law on employee data security presented by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Wednesday is the government's latest attempt to address privacy concerns about online services including social networks and Google "Street View".

It is also a reaction to corporations checking on employee e-mails and filming sales clerks during coffee breaks - which has triggered public outrage in Germany.

De Maiziere acknowledged that some of the new regulations - which have yet to be discussed and passed by parliament - might be complicated to enact.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hUfQqu8KD7wPseaDPOScYTCnxvfwD9HQIDRG0

issues by addressing the privacy rights of the people.

That's a much better direction than has been taken here and I applaud them for that.

I think the stronger unions and their outrage at violations was a factor as well.

Found some articles with more background on spying scandals referenced in this report:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,608223,00.html
German Anti-Snooping Law 'Long Overdue'


http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,602605,00.html
Deutsche Bahn Spied on 1,000 Employees

Germany's national rail company, Deutsche Bahn, may have spent years spying on its employees according to a report published by a leading newsmagazine. More than 1,000 workers, many of them in management, might have been victims of the clandestine surveillance.


http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,543485,00.html

Discount Chain Accused of Spying on Workers

It's not the first time that the discount supermarket chain Lidl has been accused of maltreating its employees. But observing them on the toilet? Listening in on their private phone calls? An explosive report published this week by a German newsmagazine has triggered an investigation into the retailer.


http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3379314,00.html
German Minister Under Fire Over Telekom Spying Scandal

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Is self-regulation the answer when companies break laws?
The German interior minister has come under attack for failing to take a tough line against Deutsche Telekom for its breaches of data laws. Calls are growing for controls on the industry to be tightened up.


Wolfgang Schaeuble has called a meeting for Monday, June 1, with the sector in a bid to win assurances that the firms will stick to the laws in the future. But many have failed even to respond to the invitation and critics say the Deutsche Telekom scandal proves that self-regulation does not work.