Mass. Senate Approves Bill To Protect Privacy Of Social Media Accounts
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Senate is backing a bill that supporters say will protect the privacy of personal social media accounts for workers and students.
The legislation unanimously approved on Wednesday would forbid employers from demanding that job applicants or workers provide a user name or password for their private social media accounts.
Similarly, colleges and educational institutions would be barred from asking an applicant or enrolled student to provide access to a personal account.
Sen. Cynthia Creem, a Newton Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, called such practices "unjustifiable and unacceptable."
The bill would also make it illegal to punish an employee or student who refuses to add a person — such as a boss, teacher or coach — as a friend or contact on a social media account.
The measure now goes to the House.
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