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

In South Carolina, employers are prohibited from monitoring their employees’ social media accounts in some circumstances. The South Carolina Social Media Privacy Act (SMCPA) prohibits employers from asking their employees or applicants for usernames, passwords, or other account information related to their personal social media accounts. Additionally, employers are barred from requiring employees or applicants to add the employer or its representatives as a “friend” or “follower” on their personal social media accounts. Employers may still monitor public social media content posted by their employees, as the SMCPA does not prohibit employers from accessing information that is available to the public or to third-party users of the social media service. However, employers must be careful not to access any content that is only available to the employee or to their designated contacts. The SMCPA also prohibits employers from retaliating against, disciplining, or terminating employees for refusing to disclose their social media account information or for having lawful activities that are conducted away from the employer’s premises and outside of the employee’s hours of work. In South Carolina, employers should be aware of the SMCPA and ensure that they are in compliance with all of its terms. The SMCPA is an important law protecting the social media privacy of South Carolina employees and applicants.

Related FAQs

Are there legal repercussions for sharing confidential information with non-employees on social media?
Are there legal repercussions for creating and managing a false account on social media?
Are there restrictions on using another person’s likeness or image on social media?
Can employers legally terminate employees for posts made on social media?
What is the line between freedom of speech and defamation on social media?
Are there laws that protect the privacy of employees on social media?
Are there privacy laws that protect the personal data of users on social media?
Are there legal repercussions for using other users’ information without their consent on social media?
Are there legal repercussions for publicly humiliating someone on social media?
Are there laws that prohibit employers from monitoring the social media accounts of their employees?

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

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts