This bill aims to enhance social media privacy for current and prospective students and employees of institutions of higher education in West Virginia. It introduces a new article, designated as 18B-22-1, which prohibits these institutions from requiring individuals to disclose their social media usernames or passwords, or to change their privacy settings as a condition for participation in curricular or extracurricular activities. Additionally, the bill defines key terms such as "employee," "institution of higher education," "social media account," and "student," establishing a clear framework for the protections being put in place.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits institutions from taking adverse actions against individuals who assert their rights under this new provision, including threats of discharge, discipline, or penalties for current students, as well as refusal to admit or hire prospective students or employees. However, it clarifies that institutions may still access publicly available information online and must comply with federal and state laws. Overall, the legislation seeks to safeguard the privacy of individuals in relation to their social media accounts while engaging with higher education institutions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-22-1