3 ms·

> Obviously this sort of law creates an incentive for background check services Bingo

x0x0 11y ago
Yet you'll note that things like credit services are, at least in the united states because that's what I'm familiar with, regulated. You have to be able to see the information and there is a process to contest inaccurate information, with government penalties if the companies don't comply. And there is enforced forgetfulness: negative credit information is removed from your report generally after 7 years. I rather doubt google wants to be so regulated; like many internet companies, they want to have their cake and eat it too.
notahacker 11y ago
Still sounds like a boon to the people most likely to send out these requests to me. Scenario 1. HR scans resume, types name into Google, finds Github profile and a couple of headlines in local newspaper about arrest, discards CV Scenario 2. HR scans resume, types name into Google, finds Github profile and forwards to dev team. Interview arranged as goes well and offer is made pending background check. Company pays $30 to agency who confirms grades and work history and additionally reveals that you were arrested but not charged for a misdemeanour when you were a teenager In the second case, there's a pretty good chance the candidate will actually get the job.
- thrownaway2424 11y ago
  Not being a full-time European I find this example fishy. In the USA arrest records of minors are sealed, even in case of trial and conviction. Nobody in the USA is publishing news articles about misdemeanor or even felony arrests of teenagers, unless the crime is very notorious. Is that not the case in Europe?
- FilterSweep 11y ago
  This is a great comment, and it actually highlights some additional problems with it all. Let's say your name was "Mike Smith." Pretty common name, right? Even if HR took your Hiring Scenario 1, it will be most likely it will take until the offer-pending-official-background-check is made. Why? Because "Mike Smith" brings up hundreds and thousands of results even with a geolocated search. Living in a city of several million is a boon to reformed misdemeanor teen Mike Smith. That's not even considering the legitimate criminal Mike Smith's that need to be ignored for our innocent Mike Smith's sake. Now, if your name was "Quincy Brouwer" (Dutch Surname), its easier for this arrest to pop up. The reality of the situation, at least from what I've seen, is that there is a hybrid of Scenarios 1 & 2 that actually go on. they will do some rudimental Googling on your name, but it won't be until the offer is about to be made that they'll do the formal, paid, background check and look into your credit history and other things. Unfortunately on the other side of the coin, for developers in particular, many will go through several rounds of sometimes grueling technical interviews only to find out a silly mistake they made as a youth disbars them from the job.

x0x0 11y ago

Yet you'll note that things like credit services are, at least in the united states because that's what I'm familiar with, regulated. You have to be able to see the information and there is a process to contest inaccurate information, with government penalties if the companies don't comply. And there is enforced forgetfulness: negative credit information is removed from your report generally after 7 years. I rather doubt google wants to be so regulated; like many internet companies, they want to have their cake and eat it too.

notahacker 11y ago

Still sounds like a boon to the people most likely to send out these requests to me. Scenario 1. HR scans resume, types name into Google, finds Github profile and a couple of headlines in local newspaper about arrest, discards CV Scenario 2. HR scans resume, types name into Google, finds Github profile and forwards to dev team. Interview arranged as goes well and offer is made pending background check. Company pays $30 to agency who confirms grades and work history and additionally reveals that you were arrested but not charged for a misdemeanour when you were a teenager In the second case, there's a pretty good chance the candidate will actually get the job.

thrownaway2424 11y ago
Not being a full-time European I find this example fishy. In the USA arrest records of minors are sealed, even in case of trial and conviction. Nobody in the USA is publishing news articles about misdemeanor or even felony arrests of teenagers, unless the crime is very notorious. Is that not the case in Europe?
FilterSweep 11y ago
This is a great comment, and it actually highlights some additional problems with it all. Let's say your name was "Mike Smith." Pretty common name, right? Even if HR took your Hiring Scenario 1, it will be most likely it will take until the offer-pending-official-background-check is made. Why? Because "Mike Smith" brings up hundreds and thousands of results even with a geolocated search. Living in a city of several million is a boon to reformed misdemeanor teen Mike Smith. That's not even considering the legitimate criminal Mike Smith's that need to be ignored for our innocent Mike Smith's sake. Now, if your name was "Quincy Brouwer" (Dutch Surname), its easier for this arrest to pop up. The reality of the situation, at least from what I've seen, is that there is a hybrid of Scenarios 1 & 2 that actually go on. they will do some rudimental Googling on your name, but it won't be until the offer is about to be made that they'll do the formal, paid, background check and look into your credit history and other things. Unfortunately on the other side of the coin, for developers in particular, many will go through several rounds of sometimes grueling technical interviews only to find out a silly mistake they made as a youth disbars them from the job.