Rhode Island Enacts Social Media Privacy Law: Employment Law Manual, Quick Reference Chart Updated

Authors: Beth P. Zoller, Marta Moakley, Melissa A. Silver and David B. Weisenfeld, XpertHR Legal Editors

Rhode Island has enacted the 2014 Student and Employee Social Media Privacy Acts, effective June 30, prohibiting employers from requesting or requiring that employees and applicants provide social media passwords or other means of accessing social media accounts or access a personal social media account in the employer's presence.

Based on this development, the Rhode Island Employee Privacy, Employee Discipline, Employee Communications, Employment Offer and Interviewing and Selecting Job Candidates sections of the Employment Law Manual and the Social Media Password Privacy Protection Legislation - Chart have been updated.