Many employers request various social media sites before hiring a new employee, but should universities and colleges have those same liberties?

The Oregon House of Representatives passed legislation on June 3 to protect the rights and privacy of college students. Senate Bill 344A (PDF) prevents colleges and universities from accessing private student and faculty social media pages. The House and Senate in Salem passed the bill with bipartisan support and is now ready for a signature from the governor.

“As social networking sites grow in popularity, we need to make sure that students are confident that their personal pages are protected,” Tigard representative Margaret Doherty said in a press release.“It’s unacceptable for colleges to access a student’s private information, just as it would be inappropriate for them to demand access to a diary or other personal notes.”

Doherty also worked to expand the privacy of social media sites for Oregon’s workers. Despite not being able to search specific social media sites, SB 344A still allows universities and colleges to investigate reports of illegal activity to reveal specific information about certain students.

“Many students are choosing to share more of their personal information online, but they still have the right to privacy,” House majority leader Val Hoyle said. “We need to make sure that students don’t lose their rights simply because they are growing up with the changing realities of new media.”