Bill > H158

This bill aims to protect the privacy of students' and employees' personal social media accounts. The key provisions are: 1. Educational institutions (public and private higher education institutions, as well as public and private elementary/secondary schools) are prohibited from requiring, requesting, or causing students or applicants to disclose their personal social media account login credentials, add school personnel to their personal accounts, or reproduce content from their personal accounts. The institutions also cannot take adverse action against students for refusing to do these things. 2. The University of Massachusetts is subject to similar restrictions as other educational institutions regarding access to students' personal social media accounts. 3. Employers are prohibited from requiring, requesting, or causing employees or applicants to disclose their personal social media account login credentials, add the employer to their personal accounts, or reproduce content from their personal accounts. Employers also cannot take adverse action against employees for refusing to do these things. 4. The bill provides for civil remedies, including damages and attorney's fees, for aggrieved students, prospective students, employees, and applicants. 5. There are exceptions that allow educational institutions and employers to access personal social media accounts in limited circumstances, such as to ensure compliance with laws/regulations, conduct investigations, or comply with judicial directives.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H158