Andre Yoskowitz
21 Apr 2012 13:11
Once Governor Martin O'Malley signs the bill, Maryland will be the first state to ban employers from asking prospective employees for their Facebook login details.
The bill takes into account all other social media sites, as well, including Twitter.
State lawmakers passed the bill almost unanimously earlier in the month and the bill is now on the Governor's desk awaiting a signature.
Once the situation came to light earlier this year, Facebook made it clear that no one should ever give access to their Facebook page. Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan said at the time: "If you are a Facebook user you should never have to share your password, let anyone access your account, or do anything that might jeopardize the security of your account or violate the privacy of your friends...As a user, you shouldn't be forced to share your private information and communications just to get a job."
The social networking giant has been working with lawmakers since and has threatened legal action to protect its user's privacy.
Nine other states have proposed similar bills to Maryland's but none have passed yet. On a federal level, Senators have called upon the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to see if the employers are breaking any type of law.
Here is to hoping all states eventually pass similar laws banning this intrusive practice.