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  2. Equal Rights
  3. Civil Rights
  4. Discrimination
  5. Social Media Law

Social Media Law

Overview

The State of Wisconsin protects the privacy of your personal internet accounts from employers, educational institutions, and landlords under certain circumstances. A "personal internet account" is defined as an internet-based account that is created and used by you for purposes of personal communications.

The statute of limitations for filing a complaint related to employment or education is 300 days from the date the action was taken, or you were made aware the action was taken. The statute of limitations for filing a complaint related to housing is one year from the date the action was taken or the individual was made aware the action was taken.

What is protected?

Your employer may not request or require access (login) information or otherwise require you to grant access or allow observation of a personal internet account. Your employer or prospective employer may not refuse to hire, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against you for refusing to provide such information or for opposing a prohibited practice or participating in the enforcement of this law. However, this protection is subject to exceptions:

  • Your employer may require access information (password or PIN) for a device it has provided you such as a laptop or tablet.
  • Your employer may require you to grant it access in the event you have transferred its information or financial data using your personal internet account.
  • Your employer may restrict access to web sites while using its equipment or network.
  • Your employer may view or access your personal internet account if it is open to the public.
  • Your employer may request or require you to provide their personal email address.

File a complaint under the Wisconsin Social Media Law against an employer.

Landlords may not request or require your access (login) information or otherwise require you to grant access or allow observation of your personal internet account. Landlords may not discriminate by refusing to rent, refusing to renew a lease, evicting, harassing, or otherwise interfering with your enjoyment of the property because of your refusal to provide access (login) information, to grant access, or to allow observation of a personal internet account. Landlords may view or access personal internet accounts that are visible to the public.

File a complaint under the Wisconsin Social Media law against a landlord.

For more information