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| Date: | March 27, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Libbie Krueger | | Contact Phone: | 651.296.1388 | | Contact Email: | elizabeth.krueger@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| BILL PROTECTS JOB-SEEKERS FROM SOCIAL NETWORK PRIVACY INVASION Nienow bill prevents employers from requiring Facebook passwords for employment |
(ST. PAUL) - Today, Senator Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge) introduced a bill to prohibit employers from requiring job candidates to disclose their social network passwords as a condition of employment.
Some companies have started to request passwords for social networking accounts like Facebook and Twitter to uncover what potential employees are putting online and to gain access to their personal lives.
Nienow, the chief-author of the bill in the Senate, stated, “When requesting social network passwords from job candidates, employers are asking for access to very personal information. It is just like asking to open a person’s mail. If a job seeker is asked for their log-in information in an interview, they may feel pressured to disclose passwords depending on how badly they want or need the job. It is important that job candidates feel like they still have a right to privacy, even in the era of social media.”
In order to ensure that job applicants are evaluated on qualifications to perform in a given position, current law restricts employers from requiring personal records, aside from convictions of public offense, for more than one year preceding the date of application. Senate File 2565 expands the statute to also prohibit companies from requiring access to social networks as a condition for employment.
“Social media can be used to make valuable connections in the employment process. However, a person should still have the ability to keep their work and personal lives separate. Invading an employee’s privacy to uncover personal information is out of bounds. This legislation brings hiring practices into the 21st century and restores the ability of employees to maintain their privacy in social networking communities,” Nienow concluded.
Senate File 2565 was given its first reading on the Senate floor and referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee.
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