Washington Enacts Social Media Privacy Law
Author: Beth P. Zoller, XpertHR Legal Editor
Employers in Washington may need to review their workplace policies on recruiting, hiring, privacy and social media and consider training supervisors and those with interviewing and hiring responsibilities now that the state has enacted a new social media privacy law. +2013 Bill Text WA S.B. 5211. Effective July 28, 2013, the new law prohibits employers from:
- Requiring employees or applicants to submit a password or other information that would enable the employer to access their personal social networking website accounts or profiles;
- Discriminating against employees or applicants who refuse to provide such information; and
- Compelling employees or applicants to add someone to their list of contacts, or alter the settings on, their personal social networking accounts.
The new law permits employers to request an employee's social media information under certain limited circumstances.
Washington is the 9th state to enact a social media privacy law.
Additional Resources
Social Media Dos and Don'ts - Supervisor Briefing