Privacy: States Continue Banning Employer Access to Social Media

From Government Technology:

Employers have been pushing employees for access to their social media accounts for years, raising a number of legal concerns. While an employee or prospective hire could decline such a request, a denial may potentially cost someone their job. And if permission is given, who’s to say that a photo shared between “friends” doesn’t influence a boss’ opinion of someone?
As a result, many states are now banning private- and public-sector employers from making compliance with social media password requests necessary. Louisiana may become the latest state to outlaw the practice. The Louisiana House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of the Personal Online Account Privacy Protection Act last week.

Article goes on to discuss situation in Wisconsin.
Read the Complete Article
Direct to National Council of State Legislatures Resource Page on Employer Access To Social Media Usernames And Password

Legislation has been introduced or is pending in at least 28 states, and enacted in two states–Maine and Wisconsin–so far in 2014.

This pages provides data about legislation back to 2012.

Filed under: Data Files, News