Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
The legislative torrent has been virtually unprecedented in the area of workplace privacy. In a single season, spring 2013, seven states enacted social media password protection legislation, bringing the total number of states to 11 since Maryland enacted the first such law in May 2012. Bills are pending in more than 20 other states. The current roster of states, dominated by the Rocky Mountain Region and the Far West, is as follows: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. New Jersey appears poised to join this group as the state's legislature amends a bill conditionally vetoed by Governor Christie in May.
The 11 states have created an unwieldy legislative patchwork that will leave many multi-state employers struggling to create a uniform policy. Nonetheless, a thorough review of the legislative hodgepodge does lead to several useful conclusions for employers.
Continue reading Littler's ASAP: Making Sense of the Complex Patchwork Created by Nearly One Dozen New Social Media Password Protection Laws.
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