California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a pair of privacy bills making it illegal for employers and colleges to demand access to social media accounts.
Brown announced on Sept. 27 that he signed AB1844 by Assemblywoman Nora Campos, a Democrat from San Jose. The bill prohibits the state’s employers from demanding user names and passwords from employees and job applicants. The restriction does not apply to passwords or information used on employer-issued electronic devices.
The governor also signed SB1349 by Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco. This companion bill makes it illegal for the state’s colleges and universities to demand social media user names and passwords from students and prospective students.
In signing the bill, Brown has made California the second U.S. state to prohibit colleges from demanding students’ social media passwords. Earlier this year, Delaware became the first state with such a law.
Brown announced the bills via Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus. He says the legislation will protect Californians from “unwarranted invasions.”
See also:
Delaware bans colleges from requiring students’ social media passwords
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