New laws keep employers out of worker social media accounts

Employers in Illinois and California cannot ask for usernames and passwords to the personal social media accounts of employees and job seekers under laws that took effect on Jan. 1.

Gov. Patrick Quinn (D-IL) in August signed legislation amending the State's 'Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act.' Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) signed legislation adding the prohibitions to the State's Labor Code in September. The two states join Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, and Delaware in implementing such privacy laws. The state laws were prompted by privacy and worker advocates concerned that some employers were asking job seekers and employees for access to their personal social media accounts as a condition of hiring and employment.