Are there laws that prohibit employers from monitoring the social media accounts of their employees?

In Iowa, employers are legally allowed to monitor the social media accounts of their employees to a certain extent. No specific laws exist that prohibit employers from monitoring the social media accounts of their employees, however, employers must be aware of the potential legal risks associated with this practice. An employer can view any public posts made by an employee on social media and the information contained in private messages the employee sends and receives. However, employers may be held liable for any discriminatory or harassing behavior they become aware of through social media monitoring, as well as invasion of privacy or the disclosure of trade secrets. Employers should take care to ensure that employee privacy is respected even when accessing public social media accounts. Employers should not search for, request or access data from social media accounts that are not open and accessible to the public. They should also ensure that employees’ social media activity is monitored and recorded in a consistent manner. Ultimately, employers in Iowa should exercise caution when monitoring their employee’s social media activity. Although it is not prohibited by law, employers should take the time to understand the potential legal risks associated with such activities. To protect both themselves and their employees, employers should consider instituting social media policies that clearly define acceptable and unacceptable employee behavior.

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Are there laws that prohibit employers from monitoring the social media accounts of their employees?

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