It is illegal to ask for such information. Extortion is illegal. The law makes it perfectly clear that private property remains private to an employer. They might as well ask for your bank account PIN or ask for the keys to your house.
Totally agree.
Some company is going to get slapped down so hard on this, the first time a good lawyer represents a 50-something lesbian minority applicant unhappy about this, they’ll rue the day they asked.
(trying to include all the protected groups, who could use this in court)