Gov. Brown Signs Bills Blocking Colleges, Employers from Seeking Social Media Passwords

Announces it through social media channels

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed twin bills prohibiting universities and employers from requiring that applicants give up their email or social media account passwords, making the announcement, appropriately, on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and MySpace.

State officials are concerned that some businesses and university managers have started asking for the passwords, in some cases to check the background of job applicants. In the case of universities, some coaches have asked athletes for access to Facebook accounts to make sure their players are not getting into trouble.

"California pioneered the social media revolution. These laws protect Californians from unwarranted invasions of their social media accounts,'' Brown tweeted. He later announced it with a press release.