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Senators and Congressmen Introduce Password Protection Act of 2012

Press Release

Location: Washington, DC

Today, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation aimed at curbing the growing practice of employers requiring prospective or current employees to provide access to password-protected accounts as a condition for employment. In the House, Congressmen Heinrich (D-NM) and Perlmutter (D-CO) are introducing an identical companion bill.

The Password Protection Act of 2012, drafted in consultation with major technology companies and legal experts, addresses this problem by enhancing current law to ensure that compelling or coercing employees into providing access to data stored in private accounts is prohibited.

"Employers seeking access to passwords or confidential information on social networks, email accounts, or other protected Internet services is an unreasonable and intolerable invasion of privacy," said Blumenthal. "With few exceptions, employers do not have the need or the right to demand access to applicants' private, password-protected information. This legislation, which I am proud to introduce, ensures that employees and job seekers are free from these invasive and intrusive practices."

"Employers don't ask job applicants for their house keys or bank account information -- why should they be able to ask them for their Facebook passwords and gain unwarranted access to a trove of their private information?" said Schumer. "That is why we're introducing legislation to stop this disturbing practice in its tracks before this invasion of privacy becomes widespread. In an age when more and more of our personal information -- and our private social interactions -- are online, it is vital that all individuals be allowed to determine for themselves what personal information they want to make public and protect personal information from their would-be employers, especially during the job-seeking process."

"Online privacy lives and dies with your password, and being forced to surrender this level of protection to an employer for fear of retribution is bullying, plain and simple. The online password protects your social life, personal information and often your bank accounts and no employer should be able to demand that this information be turned over," said Wyden.

"This is about the right to privacy," said Klobuchar. "No person should be forced to reveal their private online communications just to get a job. This is another example of making sure our laws keep up with advances in technology and that fundamental values like the right to privacy are protected."

"Employers should have no more right to online passwords than they would to a person's lending history at the library or a diary in their home," Shaheen said. "As Facebook and other websites become an increasingly important part of the daily lives of millions of people, we must be vigilant in protecting online privacy. This legislation provides an important safeguard for all Americans."

"Employers demanding Facebook passwords or confidential information on other social networks is an egregious privacy violation and should be against the law," said Heinrich. "Personal information like race, religion, age, and sexual orientation is often accessible on social networking profiles, and by having access to this information employers could discriminate against an applicant who would otherwise be qualified for a job. In an ever expanding world of technology, we need to have clear laws on the books to protect Americans' right to privacy."


Recent news reports have highlighted a disturbing increase in the number of employers asking prospective employees to hand over usernames and passwords to their personal accounts on websites like Facebook. Some job applicants are even being asked during interviews to log into these websites and allow interviewers to browse the applicant's profile, acquaintances, and other information. Others are being asked to provide passwords on job applications.

The Password Protection Act of 2012 enhances current law to prohibit employers from compelling or coercing employees into providing access to their private accounts:

Prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against a prospective or current employee because that employee refuses to provide access to a password-protected account.

The Password Protection Act only prohibits adverse employment related actions as a consequence of an employee's failure to provide access to their own private accounts. It preserves the rights of employers to:
Permit social networking within the office on a voluntary basis.
Set policies for employer-operated computer systems.

Hold employees accountable for stealing data from their employers
Employers that violate the Password Protection Act may face financial penalties.

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