The law, which saw overwhelming support in both the Senate and House of Delegates, prohibits college officials from requiring or asking students to grant access to their private social media accounts. The rules, which go into effect June 1, also apply to college applicants and prospective students.
An Oregon middle school student’s free-speech rights were violated when he was suspended for calling a teacher a “bitch” who “needs to be shot” on Facebook rant, a federal judge has ruled.
Taking steps to protect students’ privacy rights online, Maryland lawmakers heard on Wednesday a bill that could prohibit school officials from digging through students’ personal social media accounts for incriminating information.
Monitoring of student-athletes’ social media accounts is widespread among university athletic departments, according to the results of a public records audit carried out by journalism students at the University of Maryland.
A bill introduced earlier this year in Ohio would, with some exceptions, make it illegal for schools to require students to turn over access to their social media accounts either as a condition of admittance or under threat of disciplinary action.
A new Illinois law offers college and high-school students a limited measure of protection against school demands for their social-media passwords. But advocates disagree whether the statute represents a curb on schools’ ability to snoop, or a grant of greater — perhaps unconstitutionally greater — snooping authority.
Citing concerns about cyberbullying, schools have begun monitoring students’ online activity. Opponents say the tracking is unnecessarily invasive and could violate students’ First Amendment rights.
A Minnesota student’s lawsuit against her middle school over punishment she was given for Facebook posts will continue after a judge denied the school district’s motion to dismiss.
On the last day of its session, the Delaware legislature passed a bill which prohibits both public and private colleges and universities from requiring students to hand over their social media passwords.