Perlmutter Introduces Password Privacy Measure

Statement

More and more employers want to access your Facebook and social media accounts with your password for job screening purposes. Not so fast, says Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) who introduced a provision that would prevent employers from requiring current and prospective employees to hand over their personal passwords as a condition of either keeping or getting a new job.

Perlmutter said, "People have an expectation of privacy when using social media like Facebook and Twitter. They have an expectation that their right to free speech and religion will be respected when they use social media outlets. No American should have to provide their confidential personal passwords as a condition of employment. Both users of social media and those who correspond share the expectation of privacy in their personal communications. Employers essentially can act as imposters and assume the identity of an employee and continually access, monitor and even manipulate an employee's personal social activities and opinions. That's simply a step too far. "

Unfortunately, House Republicans voted 236-185 against the amendment, which was included as part of the FCC Reform Act (HR 3309). If passed, the amendment would not change the overall impact or intent of the FCC Reform Act.

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