Victoria’s Privacy Commissioner Helen Versey was recently interviewed on ABC Radio. The discussion centred on the Privacy Commission’s latest initiative aimed at young people called
Think before you upload! Which includes a number of resources including "a short animated video which aims to highlight the possible risks for young people of using on-line technologies such as social networking and gaming sites.”
Among other things the material warns young people about sharing information, photos or videos which could damage their reputation later in life. This is very sensible advice which applies to adults as well as young people. Indeed it could potentially
more damaging if you display poor judgement in your on-line actions as an adult.
Inevitably, questions arose regarding the capture of information about individuals from the internet and the storage and use of that information by companies.
Whilst I have often thought about the relevance and legality of the use of such information in the recruitment process, I was thinking about it in relation to discrimination rather than how it related to the Privacy Act, probably because the information was considered to be in the public domain. The Privacy Commissioner views it differently!
Helen Versey said that companies have an obligation to tell people that they have collected information about them from the internet. They should inform people about the nature of the information and what it is being used, and give people the opportunity to correct any of that information.
The Privacy Commission recently released “Info Sheet 02.09” titled
Job Applications, Referee Checks and Privacy which includes a section headed “ ‘Googling’ applicants “.
Everyone involved in, or responsible for recruitment, should read this.
Kevin Howard
Checking out candidates on the internet
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