Bill > AB1844

This bill, adding Chapter 2.5 to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, prohibits employers in California from demanding employees or job applicants reveal their social media usernames or passwords, or from forcing them to access their personal social media accounts while at work or to divulge their personal social media content, with "social media" broadly defined to include various online platforms and electronic content. However, this restriction does not apply if an employer needs to investigate allegations of employee misconduct or violations of laws and regulations, and the social media content is relevant to that investigation, nor does it prevent employers from requiring access to employer-provided devices. The bill also makes it illegal for employers to retaliate against employees or applicants who refuse to comply with these prohibited requests, though it clarifies that employers can still take adverse actions if otherwise permitted by law. Notably, the Labor Commissioner is not mandated to investigate violations of this new law.