It recently became public knowledge that potential job candidates for the city of Bozeman, Mont., were being asked not only to reveal their online social media affiliations, but also release their username and passwords during the application process.

The request for applicants to submit their social media usernames and passwords has stirred mixed emotions with some individuals praising the city’s thoroughness while others claiming the city of Bozeman is invading the personal privacy of the applicants.

In a recent ReadWriteWeb blog post, writer Frederic Lardinois explores the issue further. He includes a quote from Greg Sullivan, the city’s attorney, to further explain why the city requested username and password information from applicants.

Greg says “So, we have positions ranging from fire and police, which require people of high integrity for those positions, all the way down to the lifeguards and the folks that work in city hall here. So we do those types of investigations to make sure the people that we hire have the highest moral character and are a good fit for the City.”

While the city may have had good intentions, public reaction has been negative and brought on a slew of media attention. The city’s application process caught the attention of several local reporters as well as national outlets including the New York Times, U.S. News & World Report and Human Resource Executive Online.

Whether it was the public outcry or simply a change of heart, on June 19 the city of Bozeman revised its application process. As a result, applicants are no longer required to submit social media usernames and passwords on their application.

This story is a great reminder of two things. The first, is hiring processes and policies can easily reach the eyes and ears of the public. If these policies are perceived negatively, it can quickly create bad publicity, build a negative image of your company and brand, and hinder recruiting efforts. If your organization is faced with bad publicity, remember to first gather facts to ensure you are prepared to answer questions; however, it is important to respond quickly and truthfully

The second reminds jobs seekers that more organizations are looking online at social sites like Facebook and Twitter to gather more information about candidates. As a best practice, professionals should refrain from posting anything online that you would not be comfortable having your employer see.