El 4: Michigan Passes Law to Protect Social Media Accounts

domingo, 30 de diciembre de 2012

Michigan Passes Law to Protect Social Media Accounts

Michigan passed a bill on Friday that prohibits employers and schools from asking employees and students for login information to their personal social media accounts.

House Bill 5523, signed by Governor Rick Snyder and introduced by state Rep. Aric Nesbitt, "prohibit[s] employers and educational institutions from requiring certain individuals to grant access to, allow observation of, or disclose information that allows access to or observation of personal internet accounts."

This means an employer or institution cannot require that you provide them with your username or passwords for sites like Facebook and Twitter. The bill is known as the "internet privacy protection act."

"Potential employees and students should be judged on their skills and abilities, not private online activity,

"Potential employees and students should be judged on their skills and abilities, not private online activity," Snyder said in a press release.

Michigan isn't alone in adapting laws to the changing Internet social sphere.

Earlier this year, Delaware banned public and private schools from requiring students' social media account information. The bill passed through the House in a unanimous vote. Months earlier, Maryland introduced a similar bill that would particularly benefit student athletes.

In September, California passed a law that barred companies from asking its workers to surrender their social media account passwords.

Will bills and acts similar to these become more commonplace in our local and national legislature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

BONUS: 18 Social Media Slip-Ups That Will Get You Fired

1. Alcohol Overload

You're out of college, it's not cool anymore - just ask your boss.
2. Drinking and Driving

Drinking behind the wheel of a car, never a good idea. Letting everyone on Facebook see, even worse.
3. Hangover Bragging

Nothing says employee of the month like a hangover.
4. Job Complaints

No gold stars for complaining about your job.
5. Over-Sharing Relationship Woes

Don't air out the dirty laundry on Facebook. It's especially distasteful to record your feelings with a hashtag.
6. Plotting Revenge

Because nothing ranks so high on an employer's wishlist as a vengeful candidate.
7. Broadcasting Your Love Life Plans

It's fine to be single forever -- it's not fine to inform all of facebook about your plans.
8. Serial Dater

The same goes for relationships: Have as many as you please, but it's probably not a great idea to display your flakey track record for employers to see.
9. Openly Insecure

Dating and getting hired are basically the same game. You need to sell yourself, the easiest way to kill the mood is by being insecure. This is a perfect example of what not to do.
10. Admitting You're Unpopular

Remember that insecurity thing we were just talking about? If no one else listens to you, why would your employer think they should?
11. Toeing the Line

This could be considered as child abuse. It's probably not best to post photos like this controversial one.
12. Social Mug Shots

On some job applications there is a section asking if you have a criminal record. Don't beat them to the punch.
13. Legal Woes

Just like updating a status about jail, don't announce that your license is suspended as well.
14. Locked Up

Even if you were found not guilty, Facebook still isn't the place to tell everyone you were locked up.
15. Keep Sex Off Social

Even if it is a play on a popular song, posting sexually explicit messages is never a good idea.
16. Playing the Game

Despite the millions of single Facebook users, don't try to hook up with your friends or followers... especially if your boss happens to be one of them.
17. Sharing Your "Other" Abilities

It's great to have a lot of talents, but some of those aren't appropriate for posting.
18. Song Lyrics Gone Wrong

Let's just hope this was a typo.