Implementation of a law in Illinois, which gives schools permission to request passwords and usernames related to student’s social networks, continue to be a point of concern not only to privacy activists but parents also. The legislation was reportedly passed with the intention of combatting cyber bullying in schools; something that many people don’t agree with. The law goes against Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB)’s Privacy laws that requires user’s not to share passwords with anyone.
Parents Discontent
The law came into effect on January 1, 2015 with people arguing that it only goes to encourage schools to pry into their students personal lives. A number of parents in Illinois have already received a letter requiring them to share passwords related to their children social networks as part of school discipline. The new law raises questions as to how far the likes of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) will be willing to go to protect their own.
Parents continue to raise concerns as to the kind of private information that schools might encounter while going through their children’s Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) accounts. Some parents are of the opinion that accounts should only be opened while in their presence instead of handing over the passwords and usernames.
Privacy Concerns
The law according Cnet does not only apply to content posted using school computers or within the school premises, but any content that a school deems necessary to go through. Unlike Illinois, Oregon has decided against a push to have college students, as well as employees, reveal their passwords and user names to authorities.
It is only last year when 12-year-old Riles Stratton was awarded $70,000 after suing Minnesota Schools district over being coerced to reveal her Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) password. Such kind of cases are sure to be synonymous with such kind of laws as parents gang up with their kids to prevent schools from infringing on their privacy rights.
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) under its privacy rights stipulates that users should not share their passwords or let anyone else access their account.
