City Council moves to ban employers from asking for social media info
City Councilman Bill Greenlee this afternoon introduced a bill that would ban employers from demanding social media account information from current or prospective employees.
“Asking workers or potential hires for their Facebook account information is a disturbing trend that must be stopped,” Greenlee said in a statement.
“Workers deserve and expect a reasonable amount of privacy and First Amendment protections. In addition, there is the potential for unlawful discrimination – against women who become pregnant, for example.”
The bill also would prohibit employers from disciplining or refusing to hire employees if they refuse to share password information for social media sites. Greenlee said a number of states, including California, New Jersey and Delaware, have already enacted similar legislation.
“In this competitive hiring environment, it is blatantly unfair for employers to pressure workers and job seekers into forking over their personal space,” Greenlee said. “Digital privacy is a right that must be protected.”
