The whole point of Glassdoor was always to anonymously talk trash to employers — but the site has now updated its policies and started adding real names without permission, sparking outrage among users.
Like Ars Teknik According to reports, a Glassdoor user discovered this unfortunate change while trying to have their own information removed.
When I heard that the company’s real-name policy requiring user verification had been implemented since its acquisition of LinkedIn rival Fishbowl, Monica – pseudonym Ars was used to protect his identity – he began investigating deleting his account or having his information removed to protect his real identity.
Monica contacted Glassdoor support and was shocked to find that the company had filled out her account with her real name instead of helping her retrieve her information, despite repeatedly asking their customer support staff to do the exact opposite.
Monica learned that deleting someone’s account will not result in reviews or credentials being removed. The only way to do this is through a takedown request, which Glassdoor support tells them can take up to 30 days.
“Since we require all users to have their name on their profile, we will need to update your profile to reflect this,” a Glassdoor employee told Monica in an email she reviewed. Ars. “Your anonymity will still be protected.”
While those assurances may have convinced less privacy-savvy users, experts worry that if Glassdoor is subpoenaed or hacked, its database of corporate nonsense could be used to punish employees.
Neither possibility is too far off. There is a glass door already We were legally obliged to unmask employees who left negative reviews. Who can forget life-destroying attacks like cheating spouses having their entire data stolen from Ashley Madison and leaked to the public?
“When a user provides information during the registration process or by uploading their resume, that information will be automatically cross-populated across all Glassdoor services, including our community app Fishbowl,” a Glassdoor spokesperson said. Ars. “There is always the option to remain anonymous when using Glassdoor and Fishbowl. Users can choose to remain completely anonymous or disclose elements of their identity, such as company name or job title, when using our community service.”
After this story was published, Glassdoor issued another statement that did not address concerns about hacking or subpoenas.
“Glasdoor is committed to providing a platform for people to share their opinions and experiences about their jobs and companies anonymously, without fear of intimidation or retaliation,” they said. “User comments on Glassdoor have always been and will always be anonymous. In the Glassdoor community, users always have the option to post under their own name or post anonymously with their company name or job title. Glassdoor has never and will not disclose a user’s name alongside that user’s choice.” contents as long as it is not.”
Aaron Mackey, an attorney at the digital rights nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), said: Ars In the past, Glassdoor has had a good track record of protecting users’ privacy. But since acquiring Fishbowl in 2021 and implementing the semi-anonymous networking app’s user verification policies last summer, it appears to have changed its tune.
“If the goal of Glassdoor is really to get employees to talk candidly about the various things that might happen at their job, having your name potentially associated with that and having no choice but to provide information to Glassdoor,” Mackey said. A real name is a problem.”
“It is concerning if the way they are currently conducting business creates the potential for individuals to be identified, whether or not they are prosecuted,” he said. wired in a separate interview.
Today, Glassdoor requires new users to sign up with Fishbowl as well, and as Monica discovered, deleting someone’s account on both sites is quite a pain.
As Glassdoor support explains, the only way to delete a Fisbowl account was to “download the Fishbowl app and sign in with your social link, work email, or phone number to access your account.”
He eventually managed to delete his account without providing further information, using the form he found in the “help” section of the site.
In short, his experience highlights how changing data practices can make users less safe online, even exposing them to possible employer retaliation.
“Glasdoor now requires your real name and if they find out they will add it to old accounts without your permission and your only option will be to delete your account,” Monica warned in a blog post about her experience. Ars.
Additionally, there is always the possibility that the user’s identity could be revealed, depending on what they include in the review (whether it is submitted anonymously or not).
“You acknowledge that Glassdoor cannot guarantee your anonymity,” the company warns in its terms of use. “You should understand this risk before submitting Content to the Services.”
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