WA State Bill Would Allow Bosses To Seek Facebook Passwords 316
An anonymous reader writes "A bill amendment proposed Tuesday could allow employers to ask for a worker's Facebook or other social media password during company investigations. The provision was proposed for a bill that safeguards social network passwords of workers and job applicants. The measure bars employers from asking for social media credentials during job interviews. The amendment says that an employer conducting an investigation may require or demand access to a personal account if an employee or prospective employee has allegations of work-place misconduct or giving away an employer's proprietary information. The amendment would require an investigation to ensure compliance with applicable laws or regulatory requirements."
Unconstitutional laws are unconstitutional. (Score:5, Informative)
The asshole senator that added this provision has already withdrawn it due to industry objections over possible privacy violations:
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/House-rejects-bill-that-would-allow-employer-access-to-Facebook-passwords-201316061.html
Frankly, if this became a law in my state I'd challenge it as a violation of unreasonable search and seizure so fast it would make the idiot senator's head spin. A warrant from a judge might be one thing, but some random employer just saying they requesting the info as part of an official investigation can GO FRACK THEMSELVES.
Re:This bill has been withdrawn (Score:5, Informative)
Erp, the *amendment* was withdrawn. The bill it was attached to (SB 5211, meant to *prevent* employer access to social media accounts) is still alive.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Washington-House-panel-rejects-push-for-passwords-4406954.php [seattlepi.com]
Re:Well, does the law force compliance? (Score:4, Informative)
So basically, a company can put you over a barrel, threaten you, extort you, fire you, levy fines and penalties against you, and it's all totally legal. And thus, a law allowing them to demand these things, and the penalties being any of the above sanctions, would also be legal... even without the law. The law, as it were, is superfluous: Employers can do this right now without fear of reprisal.
The bill [wa.gov] in question is actually the other way around - it tries to make it illegal for companies to extort employees, at least over this one specific thing. Quote:
"It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or the state of Washington, its political subdivisions, or municipal corporations to require, directly or indirectly, as a condition of employment or continued employment, that any employee or prospective employee submit any password or other related account information in
order to gain access to the employee's or prospective employee's personal account or profile on a social networking web site or to demand access in any manner to an employee's or prospective employee's personal account or profile on a social networking web site."
The controversy is over a proposed amendment to that bill, which would exempt "company investigations" from the above clause.