Bill > S991

This bill aims to protect the privacy of students and employees by restricting educational institutions and employers from accessing or compelling access to their personal social media accounts. The key provisions include: 1. Prohibiting educational institutions from requiring students or applicants to disclose login credentials or content from their personal social media accounts, as well as from taking adverse action against them for refusing such requests. 2. Granting students and applicants the right to bring civil lawsuits and recover damages if their institutions violate these privacy protections. 3. Establishing similar restrictions and protections for students and applicants of the University of Massachusetts system. 4. Extending existing labor laws to prohibit employers from requiring employees or job applicants to disclose login credentials or content from their personal social media accounts, or from taking adverse action against them for refusing such requests. The bill provides exceptions to allow access to personal social media accounts in cases of legally mandated investigations or compliance with applicable laws, but requires the institution or employer to first notify the individual and limit the access to only relevant information.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S991