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HR 5050 112th Congress House

Social Networking Online Protection Act

Official title: To prohibit employers and certain other entities from requiring or requesting that employees and certain other individuals provide a user name, password, or ot… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prohibit employers and certain other entities from requiring or requesting that employees and certain other individuals provide a user name, password, or other means for accessing a personal account on any social networking website.

Introduced: May 15, 2012 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liabilityElementary and secondary educationEmployee hiringEmployment discrimination and employee rights
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Higher educationInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaRight of privacySchool administration
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 26, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Sep 26, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
Sep 26, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Apr 27, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Apr 27, 2012
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 26, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Social Networking Online Protection Act - Prohibits employers from: (1) requiring or requesting that an employee or applicant for employment provide a user name, password, or any other means for accessing a private email account or personal account on a social networking website; or (2) discharging, disciplining, discriminating against, denying employment or promotion to, or threatening to take any such action against any employee or applicant who refuses to provide such information, files a compliant or institutes a proceeding under this Act, or testifies in any such proceeding.

Sets forth, with respect to employer violations of this Act: (1) civil penalities; (2) the authority of the Secretary of Labor to bring injunctive actions; and (3) the jurisdiction of U.S. district courts to provide legal or equitable relief including employment, reinstatement, promotion, and payment of lost wages and benefits.

Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit certain institutions of higher education and local educational agencies from requesting such password or account information from students or potential students. Prohibits denial of admission, suspension, expulsion, and other discipline or discrimination against students who decline to provide such information, file a complaint, institute a proceeding, or testify in any related proceeding.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5050: Social Networking Online Protection Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5050/
MLA
"H.R. 5050: Social Networking Online Protection Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5050/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5050, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5050/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5050: Social Networking Online Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5050/)
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