New Jersey’s new “Facebook law” is headed to Gov. Christie’s desk.
If he signs it, the measure would prevent employers and colleges from requiring current or prospective employees or students to turn over their login information for social networking websites as a condition of employment or acceptance.
The state Assembly voted in favor of the measure, 75-2, following approval by the Senate.
“Demanding this information is akin to coercion when it might mean the difference between landing a job and not being able to put food on the table for your family,” said John Burzichelli (D- Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem), one of the Assembly’s co-sponsors.
“It’s really no different than asking someone to turn over a key to their house,” he said.
The legislation follows reports of private businesses and higher education institutions demanding Facebook login information from job applicants. The lawmakers also sponsored a companion bill that became law in December barring bars colleges and universities from doing the same.
Nothing in the proposed law prevents employers from doing their own online research to see what a prospective or current employee might be up to online, if that person’s account isn’t password-protected.
The measure approved today would prohibit an employer from requiring a current or prospective employee to provide or disclose any user name, password, or other means for accessing a personal account or service through an electronic communications device. READ MORE....
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