Employer and School Access to Social Media Accounts (H 7124B, S 2095A as amended)

As social media use has become ubiquitous, so too has the temptation for schools and employers to use social media information to observe the activities of students and employees. ACLU-drafted legislation approved by both the House and Senate in June will protect users’ private social media profiles from undue intrusion by barring schools and employers from requesting or requiring students’, employees’ or applicants’ social media passwords, or otherwise gaining access to their private social media accounts. Several states have already approved similar legislation; Rhode Island joined the pack when Governor Chafee signed the legislation on June 30.