A federal bill to prohibit the practice of asking applicants and/ or employees for the password to access their social media has been introduced. On April 27, 2012, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., introduced the Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA).
SNOPA would prohibit employers from requiring a username, password or other access to online content. It would not allow employers to demand such access to discipline, discriminate or deny employment and would bar employers from disciplining individuals who refuse to volunteer such information.
Maryland became the first state prohibiting employers from requesting the social media passwords or accessing the social media accounts of prospective and current employees on May 2nd, 2012.