( CNN ) -- Facebook has weighed in on a practice by some businesses asking employees or job applicants for their passwords to the popular social-media site . In a nutshell ? Facebook says do n't do it unless you want to get sued . `` This practice undermines the privacy expectations and the security of both the user and the user 's friends , '' Erin Egan , the site 's chief privacy officer , wrote Friday on the site 's Facebook and Privacy Page . `` It also potentially exposes the employer who seeks this access to unanticipated legal liability . '' Egan said that Facebook has seen a `` distressing increase '' in reports of job candidates being asked for their passwords over the past few months . She notes the practice violates not just the user 's privacy but also that of his or her Facebook friends . It also might violate employment laws , according to the post . `` ( W ) e do n't think it 's right the thing to do , '' she said . `` But it also may cause problems for the employers that they are not anticipating . For example , if an employer sees on Facebook that someone is a member of a protected group ( e.g . over a certain age , etc . ) that employer may open themselves up to claims of discrimination if they do n't hire that person . '' Earlier this week , the American Civil Liberties Union spoke out against the practice . The group said they 've gotten multiple reports of people either being asked for their passwords or required to `` friend '' managers when they were applying for jobs . Robert Collins of the Baltimore area testified before the Maryland Legislature in February that he was trying to reapply for his corrections officer job after taking a leave of absence when he was told he needed to hand over his password to prove he had no gang affiliations . `` I did not want to do it , but because I really needed my job and he implied that this was a condition of recertification , I reluctantly gave him the password , '' he told Maryland lawmakers , who are considering outlawing the practice . In her post , Egan said that Facebook will consider going to court if it hears of the practice continuing . `` Facebook takes your privacy seriously , '' she wrote. `` We 'll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users , whether by engaging policymakers or , where appropriate , by initiating legal action , including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges . '' It is already against Facebook 's terms of service to share a password . `` You will not share your password , ( or in the case of developers , your secret key ) , let anyone else access your account , or do anything else that might jeopardize the security of your account , '' the agreement reads .
Facebook threatens possible legal action over employers seeking passwords . Comment: Asking job candidates for their password violates Facebook 's terms of service . The ACLU has spoken out against practice , and some states are considering action .