MN HF2116

Employers are prohibited from requiring, requesting, or coercing employees or applicants to disclose usernames, passwords, or other authentication methods to personal social media accounts.

Employers cannot require employees or applicants to access personal social media accounts in their presence, or to add the employer to contact lists or change privacy settings on personal accounts.

Employers cannot discharge, discipline, penalize, or refuse to hire applicants based on their refusal to provide social media access or credentials.

Employers may access publicly available information, comply with laws and regulations, and request specific reported content for investigating unauthorized transfer of proprietary information, financial data breaches, or unlawful workplace harassment.

Violating employers are subject to civil legal action with injured parties entitled to actual damages including mental pain and suffering, plus reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs.