United States — Maine Act or statute

United States — Maine legislation

Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, § 616: Prohibitions, 2015

An employer may not demand access to an employee’s or applicant’s personal social media account, or penalize or refuse to hire someone for not providing that access or related contact/settings changes.

Source excerpt

applicant screeningemployee screeningworkplace social media access

Jurisdiction: United States — Maine
Structure: 1 provisions
Official identity: Year 2015
Dates: Enacted 2015 · Source version 1 Oct 2025

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Dates: Enacted 2015 · Source version 1 Oct 2025

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“An employer may not demand access to an employee’s or applicant’s personal social media account, or penalize or refuse to hire someone for not providing that access or related contact/settings changes.”

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Enacted 2015 · Source version 1 Oct 2025. The date shown identifies this source expression and should not be treated as proof that no later change exists.
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Prohibitions

Section 616

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Source record from legislature.maine.gov · Enacted 2015 · Source version 1 Oct 2025

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§ 616ProhibitionsProvision

Source excerpt

An employer may not: [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 1. Passwords. Require or coerce an employee or applicant to disclose, or request that an employee or applicant disclose, the password or any other means for accessing a personal social media account; [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 2. Access in presence. Require or coerce an employee or applicant to access, or request that an employee or applicant access, a personal social media account in the presence of the employer or an agent of the employer; [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 3. Information. Require or coerce an employee or applicant to disclose any personal social media account information; [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 4. Contacts. Require or cause an employee or applicant to add anyone, including the employer or an agent of the employer, to the employee's or applicant's list of contacts associated with a personal social media account; [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 5. Settings. Require or cause an employee or applicant to alter, or request that an employee or applicant alter, settings that affect a 3rd party's ability to view the contents of a personal social media account; [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 6. Employees. Discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize or threaten to discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize an employee for the employee's refusal to disclose or provide access to information as specified in subsection 1, 2 or 3 or for refusal to add anyone to the employee's list of contacts associated with a personal social media account as specified in subsection 4 or to alter the settings associated with a personal social media account as specified in subsection 5; or [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).] 7. Applicants. Fail or refuse to hire an applicant as a result of the applicant's refusal to disclose or provide access to information specified in subsection 1, 2 or 3 or refusal to add anyone to the applicant's list of contacts associated with a personal social media account as specified in subsection 4 or to alter the settings associated with a personal social media account as specified in subsection 5. [PL 2015, c. 343, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).]

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1 Oct 2025 · currentEnglish

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