WASHINGTON 鈥� Starting Monday, a new law makes it illegal for colleges in Maryland to demand access to students鈥� social media accounts.
Whether it鈥檚 a public or private university, the law 鈥� signed by Gov. Larry Hogan last month 鈥� makes it illegal for a college to demand access to a student鈥檚 private social media accounts. The law applies to current and prospective students.
In a changing digital and social media landscape, the law shields colleges from legal liability over students鈥� speech through social media platforms. Also, it gives students legal grounds to sue a college for breaking the rules.
The law doesn鈥檛 cover all social-media use, however. Universities are still allowed to access information that is publicly available or accessed through university-owned computers or networks.
Also, a third party can share information from social media accounts with officials.
Additionally, the law doesn’t allow聽school officials to force students to accept a 鈥渇riend request.鈥�
