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ACLU Decries New Md. Prison Jobseeker Rules

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union says Maryland's prison agency may be invading the privacy of Facebook users by asking prospective correctional officers to let background investigators view their personal websites.

The ACLU is responding to revisions announced Wednesday in prison hiring practices.

The state says it will no longer ask prospective employees to voluntarily divulge login information for their social media accounts. Instead, applicants will be asked to voluntarily log in so that investigators can review the sites.

The ACLU says applicants will feel coerced to comply even though the prison agency says compliance is not a condition of employment.

The group also says the practice may violate Facebook policies designed to protect the privacy of those who have "friended" the job applicants.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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