Bill > S2034

This bill aims to protect the social media privacy of students and employees by prohibiting educational institutions and employers from demanding access to personal social media accounts, which are defined as accounts used exclusively for personal communications unrelated to educational or business purposes. Specifically, educational institutions, including higher education, elementary, and secondary schools, as well as the University of Massachusetts, are forbidden from requiring students or applicants to disclose usernames, passwords, or other access information for their personal social media accounts, or from compelling them to add school personnel as contacts. Similarly, employers are prohibited from demanding such access or requiring employees or applicants to add employers or their agents as contacts on their personal social media accounts. The bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to publicly available information or information obtained through lawful workplace policies governing the use of employer-provided electronic equipment, and it outlines exceptions for employers needing access for legally mandated investigations or compliance with specific regulations, provided certain notification and limitation requirements are met. Aggrieved students or employees can pursue civil action for violations, potentially recovering damages, punitive damages, and legal costs.