Data-Mining Profiles for Employers

Level1Techs INBOX.deb
1

Hey Logan and Wendell,

Recently there has obviously been a lot of talk about PRISM, and while it is extremely important, I think it's still important for us to maintain conversations about online privacy with regards to corporations (that and I'm sick of NSA talk at this point). For example, before the PRISM news there was quite a bit of talk about corporate tracking, profile building, etc. More specifically, there was talk of how life insurance companies ( I believe Blue Cross did this) would buy information on their clients to learn more about their lifestyles. For example, if someone were to buy McDonalds constantly and search for large-sized clothing online, they may either get declined for insurance, or get dietary recommendations sent to them.

Here, we have a situation in which companies buy personal profiles on their clients. My question is, how long do you think it will be before data mining companies construct profiles on us, and then sell those profiles to possible employers?

Think of it like a online service that an employer subscribes to, granting them access to profiles on people they are looking to possibly hire. Employers are already looking at Facebook profiles, so could this be the next step in the commodification of our information/lives?

Or do I need to add more tinfoil to my hat?

PS Love the show.

-David

2

I don't think you are too far from the truth. It's been known for about 4 years now employers have been secretly adding a line of text in their background check waivers, that fine print nobody reads. You sign it to allow them to conduct a background check on you. This line of text includes waiving your rights to the employer for allowing them to conduct a legal search of your online social media for the purposes of pre-employment screening.

 

On a side note, the experience I've been having with trying to get employment the last 2 years is that you are a criminal until proven otherwise. Big coporations look at any potential employee as a criminal out to steal money from them until they can prove otherwise. Forget about trying to find a decent job with a few non-violent, non-drug related felonies on your criminal record. Most corporations don't like hiring felons because they think every felon cannot be trusted no matter what the charges were.