Latest York bosses are now barred from asking job applicants and employees for access to their private social-media accounts, because of a recent law just approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Under the laws, employers are forbidden from requesting or requiring that an worker or applicant disclose “any user name, password, or other means for accessing a private account” akin to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
The private information is forbidden from getting used for hiring or disciplinary purposes, said state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx), who authored the bill together with state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens).
Such snooping by employers has grow to be common.
![Employers are now barred from requiring applicants to disclose their social media accounts.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000039773721.jpg?w=1024)
![The information is no longer allowed to be used for disciplinary or hiring processes.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000039773719.jpg?w=1024)
“Gov. Hochul signed this law to guard the privacy of Latest Yorkers and protect their rights within the workplace,” said the governor’s spokesman, Avi Small, on Monday.
Dinowitz said he’s been pushing for such restrictions on social-media monitoring for a decade.
“The proliferation of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Threads has vastly increased the accessibility of information,” Dinowitz said in an announcement. “Nevertheless, certain employers go to great lengths beyond publicly shared data when making hiring and disciplinary determinations.
![State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz authored the bill along with state Sen. Jessica Ramos.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000039773720.jpg?w=1024)
“This includes the unwarranted solicitation of social media usernames and passwords and access to non-public email and other highly private accounts from prospective and current employees. Such requests represent a grave breach of privacy on the employer’s part and may raise concerns regarding unfair and discriminatory hiring and admission practices,” he said.
Dinowitz said the law gives individuals the discretion to make your mind up whether to maintain such information public or private.
“They must be afforded the entire freedom to safeguard their privacy regarding workplace matters, interviews, or admissions processes, without the apprehension of job loss or rejection attributable to non-compliance with such requests,” the pol said.