Spring Break
Police, employers using Facebook
Student profiles may affect jobs
Matthew Werlein
Issue date: 2/27/06 Section: Campus News
Since Facebook became available at UW-Eau Claire in the spring of 2005, students have been able to use the service to contact college and high school friends from all over the world to see how they are doing via their profiles.
But now law enforcement officials and potential employers also are beginning to use Facebook, said officials at the Eau Claire police department.
Karl Fischer, an Eau Claire Police Department lieutenant, said law enforcement officials do as much of a background check on suspects as they can, which could include checking Facebook profiles.
"We do extensive background checks which can include talking to old roommates or neighbors," he said. "We want information to find out who they really are."
While he said he cannot recall any specific case in which the department obtained information from Facebook, Fischer said police officials would use the Web site to get information on the individual.
If a suspect posted that they like to do drugs, or if there are incriminating pictures of them, they may use them, he said.
Other universities have been using the Web site to identify students involved in illegal activities.
In March of 2005, a student at Oklahoma University was questioned by the Department of Homeland Security Secret Service because of a message he posted on Facebook about hiring an assassin to kill the President, according to their campus newspaper. The student said he posted it as a joke.
Penn State University Police used Facebook to identify and prosecute students who rushed the football field after an October 2005 game.
Employers also are beginning to search the site, Director of Career Services Jeanne Skoug said. Sshe began to hear last fall that employers were looking on Facebook to do research on students who apply for internships and jobs.
"It can have an affect on job prospects if there is something inappropriate on (your profile)," Skoug said.
First impressions are extremely important, and so are the assumptions that a potential employer can make based on information that they have access to, she said.
But now law enforcement officials and potential employers also are beginning to use Facebook, said officials at the Eau Claire police department.
Karl Fischer, an Eau Claire Police Department lieutenant, said law enforcement officials do as much of a background check on suspects as they can, which could include checking Facebook profiles.
"We do extensive background checks which can include talking to old roommates or neighbors," he said. "We want information to find out who they really are."
While he said he cannot recall any specific case in which the department obtained information from Facebook, Fischer said police officials would use the Web site to get information on the individual.
If a suspect posted that they like to do drugs, or if there are incriminating pictures of them, they may use them, he said.
Other universities have been using the Web site to identify students involved in illegal activities.
In March of 2005, a student at Oklahoma University was questioned by the Department of Homeland Security Secret Service because of a message he posted on Facebook about hiring an assassin to kill the President, according to their campus newspaper. The student said he posted it as a joke.
Penn State University Police used Facebook to identify and prosecute students who rushed the football field after an October 2005 game.
Employers also are beginning to search the site, Director of Career Services Jeanne Skoug said. Sshe began to hear last fall that employers were looking on Facebook to do research on students who apply for internships and jobs.
"It can have an affect on job prospects if there is something inappropriate on (your profile)," Skoug said.
First impressions are extremely important, and so are the assumptions that a potential employer can make based on information that they have access to, she said.