It’s no longer legal in Illinois for employers to demand their employees give them log in information for their Facebook or other social networking account.
Governor Pat Quinn (D) signed the law on Wednesday.
The law protects both current employees and prospective hires. The legislation, which takes effect Jan. 1, does not stop supervisors from viewing information that isn’t restricted by privacy settings on a website. Employers are also free to set workplace policies on the use of the Internet, social networking sites and email.
Penalties in any successful civil suit would start at between $100 and $300 and could end up costing employers more, said bill sponsor Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat.
Maryland is the only other state with a similar law. Other states considering such bans include Washington, Delaware, and New Jersey.
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