The government has been working hard to protect online privacy this week. On the regulation side, yesterday the Illinois governor signed the “Facebook Law,” making Illinois the second state to statutorily prohibit employers from compelling employees or applicants to disclose their social media passwords. Additionally, the FTC is working to increase online security for minors by proposing new data-protection rules.
Enforcement efforts are also being stepped up, with prosecutors around the country making examples of internet-using lawbreakers. In Texas, two teenagers are facing felony online impersonation charges for creating a fake Facebook page in a classmate’s name. Two online poker sites are paying millions to settle bank fraud and money laundering charges, and a Kent State student was charged with inducing a panic and aggravated menacing after he allegedly threatened the university and its president via Twitter.
Technology and the Workplace
- IL Governor Signs “Facebook Law” Prohibiting Employers From Forcing Passwords (Chicago Tribune)
- Former Prosecutor Allegedly Threatened Boss on Facebook, Now Faces Criminal Charges (Above the Law) (Virginian-Pilot)
- AT&T Sales Consultant Fired For Off-Duty Facebook Post (Lawffice Space)
- At-Work Olympics Viewing Wastes $650M, L.A. Workers Told to Quit Watching While on the Job (MSN) (NBC)
- Survey Finds Workers Spend One-Fourth of Workday Reading, Responding to Email (Huffington Post)
Technology and the Law
- Two TX Middle School Students Arrested for Online Impersonation After Creating Fake Facebook Page for Classmate (ABA Journal) (NBC) (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram)
- FTC Proposes Tougher Rules for Online Child Privacy (NPR)
- Senate May Go On Recess Without Passing Cyber Bill (NBC) (FOX)
- Kent State Student Charged with Threatening School on Twitter (NBC)
- Online Poker Sites Settle U.S. Lawsuit for $731 Million (CNN)
- School District to Search Students’ Electronics for Sexting (Huffington Post)