Gov. Edmund G. Brown signed a bill today, prohibiting employers from requiring or requesting employees or job applicants to provide user names or passwords for personal social media accounts so employers can gain access to the accounts.

The new law, AB 1884 (Campos; D- San Jose), also prohibits employers from discharging or disciplining employees who refuse to divulge user names or passwords associated with their personal social media accounts.

The bill is not intended to infringe on an employer’s existing rights and obligations to investigate workplace misconduct.

Gov. Brown also signed SB 1349, which establishes similar restrictions on public and private universities and colleges.

Author: Gail Cecchettini Whaley

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