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Bill Would Ban Employers From Requesting Social Media Info

An Arkansas lawmaker has proposed banning employers from asking current or prospective employees for their usernames or passwords to Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts.

Democratic Rep. Nate Steel of Nashville filed the bill Friday. It would prohibit employers from threatening or taking disciplinary action against employees or applicants for not revealing their usernames or passwords.

Employers could not refuse to hire applicants for not handing over their social media information.

The legislation would also apply to email accounts. 

Employers would also be barred from requiring employees or applicants to change the privacy settings of their social media accounts.

Six states have enacted similar laws.

Steel's measure would not prohibit employers from viewing publicly available information online about current or prospective employees.