In April 2026, a young woman from Bucharest shared her experience of being subjected to a polygraph test during a job interview, sparking widespread discussion about hiring practices in Romania. The incident, which quickly gained traction on social media, raised questions about the legality and appropriateness of using lie detector tests in employment screening processes.
The woman, identified as Andreea, stated she applied for a marketing position and was informed during the initial interview that the recruitment process included a polygraph examination. Although she was told the test was not mandatory, she claimed there was an implicit suggestion that refusing would result in disqualification from consideration for the role.
According to her account, the questioning during the polygraph test extended beyond professional qualifications into personal matters. Andreea reported being asked about her loyalty to the company, potential security risks, and aspects of her private life, including whether she had used illegal substances in the past five years. She described these questions as highly personal and unrelated to the job she was seeking.
After approximately one week, Andreea received notification that she had not been selected for the position. She subsequently decided to speak publicly about her experience, posting a video on TikTok that went viral. Her account prompted others to arrive forward with similar stories, some claiming they had received inaccurate results from such tests during job applications.
Legal experts have weighed in on the matter, stating that the use of polygraph tests in employment contexts constitutes a clear violation of Romanian labor law. Attorney Costel Gîlcă explained that such practices infringe upon fundamental rights and are not permitted under current legislation governing workplace privacy and data protection.
The incident has contributed to ongoing debates about privacy rights in the hiring process and the ethical boundaries of pre-employment screening. Although polygraph tests are sometimes used in specific security-sensitive roles in certain jurisdictions, their application in standard job interviews remains controversial and legally questionable in many European countries, including Romania.
As of the date of the reports, no official investigation or legal action had been publicly announced in response to the specific case involving Andreea. The discussion continues to highlight concerns about consent, privacy, and the appropriate limits of employer inquiries during recruitment procedures.