Germany is planning a new law to stop employers snooping on prospective job candidates on websites like Facebook.
The aim is to stop private information on social networking sites from entering the public arena.
Googling a potential staff member would still be allowed under the proposals.
Author on workplace issues Rowan Manahan says the law is somewhat impractical.
“What they’re saying is that if somebody in an organisation who is potentially hiring you as an employee friends you on Facebook with the specific intention of then prowling around to see if you’ve been bungee jumping into volcanos when you were on your holidays…or if you’re some kind of crazed adrenalin junkie or whatever it might be – well than that’s a no-no, that’s not on” he said.
“(But) what happens if they already friends with you?” he added.
