Missing online data, as well as stringent federal and state privacy rules, make it difficult to discover a prospective employee's or tenant's criminal past.
The article from Kiplinger discusses the pitfalls of standard digital background checks, highlighting their unreliability due to several factors. Firstly, the information available online can be outdated, incomplete, or incorrect, leading to misinformed decisions by employers. Background check companies often rely on databases that might not be regularly updated or might contain errors, such as mistaken identity or records not expunged properly. Additionally, the article points out that these checks often miss out on critical information like recent employment history, educational qualifications, or even criminal records that are not public or are sealed. There's also the issue of privacy and legal compliance; some background check services might not adhere strictly to laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which can result in legal issues for employers. The piece suggests that while digital checks are convenient, they should be supplemented with more thorough, manual verification processes to ensure accuracy and fairness in hiring decisions.