Based on the initiative of two senators in California, Governor Jerry Brown signed two legislations to protect people who live in the largest state in America. The two privacy protection laws are the first ever signed by a governor in America. The California's decision could pave a way for other states to follow the similar path. These two laws will also impact the global initiatives to protect their citizens.
Starting January 1, 2013, companies are banned from firing their employees and taking discipline actions if employees refused to hand over their login and password which are related to their social media activities including Facebook and Twitter accounts. Employers are also not allowed to force candidates to turn over their personal e-mail accounts.
One of the two laws also bans colleges and universities to ask current active students’ and prospective students’ user name, login, or password, especially student athletes. In the world of college sports and to follow NCAA rules, many coaches who are recruiting student athletes may try to take a peek on their social media accounts. Some universities have assigned staffs to monitor athletes’ social networking contents. However, all those practices will end in three months in California.
(Images: left, Twitter logo; right, Facebook logo)
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