The Hill News

We are very proud of our legislation designed to protect the online privacy of the millions of internet users in our country. The Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA) was created to prevent employers, schools and universities from demanding usernames and passwords from current employees and students, or prospective ones. This applies to websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, and also protects email and any other personal user generated content. Unfortunately, there have been several instances of such demands, and the implications on personal privacy are worrisome.
 
With few protections, and virtually no distinction between what is private versus what is public, many people are being required to divulge their personal passwords and logon information to obtain employment or enroll in a university and its sports programs. That lack of clarity puts those individuals in a position where they either have to give up their private information, or ! they risk their job, potential job, enrollment or involvement in sports programs.  That is unacceptable in a free society.

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