Employers would be prohibited from asking for passwords to the social media and other internet accounts of workers and job applicants, under a bill approved in the Wisconsin state Senate on Tuesday. The measure, which passed unanimously, would also make it illegal for landlords or educational institutions to require tenants and current or prospective students to hand over that information.
Information that is publicly available online without a password could still be viewed. Employers and schools would still be able to monitor what websites are visited while using a computer under its control or place restrictions on what can be accessed online.
Supporters of the proposal say the additional protections are needed to stop individuals from being pressured to hand over sensitive personal information when seeking a job, place to live, or admission to a school. The move is intended to protect information that’s shared privately using those accounts.
The bill now heads to the state Assembly.