Is the company to which I apply for a job allowed to look up information about me online?

No, this is not allowed without a good reason. Not even if the information is public, for example on social media.

An organisation is only allowed to look up information about you if:

• The organisation has a very good reason to do so. For example, because it is important for the specific position. Curiosity is not a good reason;
• The organisation only looks up business information about you. Here you can think of your LinkedIn profile. But this does not include holiday photos on your personal Facebook profile, for example;
• You are informed beforehand that the organisation wants to look up (business) information about you. For example, because this is stated in the job application;
• During a job interview, you are given the opportunity to explain the information found.

Not the same as screening

An organisation may also ‘screen’ you (or instruct a third party to do this) when you apply for a job. In that case, the organisation checks whether the information given by you is correct. For example, by calling references. Or by checking if you are on a black list. In some professions, such as childcare, this is even required by law. However, strict rules apply for this practice.

Complaint

Did you apply to an organisation, and do you think, or did you notice that this organisation does not adhere to the aforementioned rules? Then report the problem to the organisation first. Are you unable to work it out together, or does the organisation not respond? Then you can submit a tip-off or a complaint to the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (Dutch DPA).