Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

<B><I>BREAKING NEWS:</b></i> <b>House Rejects Facebook Password Amendment</b>

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
March 29, 2012

On March 29, The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposed amendment to the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 3309) that would have allowed the FCC to prevent employers from asking for social networking passwords from prospective employees.

The Amendment was proposed by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO). 'What this amendment does is it says that you cannot demand, as a condition of employment, that somebody reveal a confidential password to their Facebook, to their Flickr, to their Twitter, whatever their account may be,' Perlmutter said during a speech on the House floor. The Amendment read:

'Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall be construed to limit or restrict the ability of the Federal Communications Commission to adopt a rule or to amend an existing rule to protect online privacy, including requirements in such rule that prohibit licensees or regulated entities from mandating that job applicants or employees disclose confidential passwords to social networking websites.'

The Amendment was voted down 236 to 184. Only one House Republican voted in support of the amendment, while only two House Democrats voted against the amendment, although Republicans have stated they would be willing to to work on similar legislation in the future, according to PCWorld. The overall Reform Act, which is designed to make the FCC more transparent, passed 247-174, PC World reports.

On March 29, The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposed amendment to the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 3309) that would have allowed the FCC to prevent employers from asking for social networking passwords from prospective employees.

The Amendment was proposed by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO). 'What this amendment does is it says that you cannot demand, as a condition of employment, that somebody reveal a confidential password to their Facebook, to their Flickr, to their Twitter, whatever their account may be,' Perlmutter said during a speech on the House floor. The Amendment read:

'Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall be construed to limit or restrict the ability of the Federal Communications Commission to adopt a rule or to amend an existing rule to protect online privacy, including requirements in such rule that prohibit licensees or regulated entities from mandating that job applicants or employees disclose confidential passwords to social networking websites.'

The Amendment was voted down 236 to 184. Only one House Republican voted in support of the amendment, while only two House Democrats voted against the amendment, although Republicans have stated they would be willing to to work on similar legislation in the future, according to PCWorld. The overall Reform Act, which is designed to make the FCC more transparent, passed 247-174, PC World reports.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
How Secure Is the AI System Your Law Firm Is Using? Image

What Law Firms Need to Know Before Trusting AI Systems with Confidential Information In a profession where confidentiality is paramount, failing to address AI security concerns could have disastrous consequences. It is vital that law firms and those in related industries ask the right questions about AI security to protect their clients and their reputation.

COVID-19 and Lease Negotiations: Early Termination Provisions Image

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some tenants were able to negotiate termination agreements with their landlords. But even though a landlord may agree to terminate a lease to regain control of a defaulting tenant's space without costly and lengthy litigation, typically a defaulting tenant that otherwise has no contractual right to terminate its lease will be in a much weaker bargaining position with respect to the conditions for termination.

Pleading Importation: ITC Decisions Highlight Need for Adequate Evidentiary Support Image

The International Trade Commission is empowered to block the importation into the United States of products that infringe U.S. intellectual property rights, In the past, the ITC generally instituted investigations without questioning the importation allegations in the complaint, however in several recent cases, the ITC declined to institute an investigation as to certain proposed respondents due to inadequate pleading of importation.

Authentic Communications Today Increase Success for Value-Driven Clients Image

As the relationship between in-house and outside counsel continues to evolve, lawyers must continue to foster a client-first mindset, offer business-focused solutions, and embrace technology that helps deliver work faster and more efficiently.

The Power of Your Inner Circle: Turning Friends and Social Contacts Into Business Allies Image

Practical strategies to explore doing business with friends and social contacts in a way that respects relationships and maximizes opportunities.