Wis. bill would shield job seekers’ web privacy

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin state lawmaker is pushing legislation that would keep employers from requiring their employees or job applicants to give them access to personal social media accounts.

Rep. Garey Bies of Sister Bay is a Republican who’s co-sponsoring the bill. He says social media access should be protected. Bies says it’s not right that employers might demand it and use something on a person’s account against them.

At least 35 states are considering such laws, and several have already passed them.

Kimberley Cornwell, associate director of career services at Northwestern University’s journalism school, says it makes sense for employers to track what’s publicly accessible on social media as a way to sift candidates. But Cornwell says forcing job seekers to give up access to their accounts crosses a line.