Social Media Monitoring and Privacy Law

Name: Social Media Monitoring and Privacy Law
Rating: 4.5 (380 reviews)

Learn to monitor social networks without violating privacy rights in this course on lawful social media surveillance.

Created byEric Schwartzman

Last updated 2/2023

English

What you'll learn

Use social media to screen job applicants without making discriminatory hiring decisions
Monitor what employees and coworkers say on social media without violating privacy law
Lawfully access social media and personal email accounts with violating privacy rights
Track an employee's smartphones, tablet and computer use without violating privacy law

Course content

4 sections • 14 lectures • 39m total length

Overview of Lawful Social Media Monitoring3:03
This course on social media and privacy for employers focuses on the digital surveillance rights of employers. The training covers which digital employee communications can be monitored, which are off limits, circumstances justifying broader employee surveillance, and the use of social media for job applicant screening.

Also included are primers on how the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protect employee privacy on social media.

The course includes case studies and examples and is accessible via the desktop and mobile devices. As you advance through the course, you will be given assessment questions. Your score will recorded and used to issue your Social Media Privacy certification.
What to Expect from this Course1:59
This course provides insight into which digital employee communications they are and aren’t legally permitted to monitor.

But Comply Socially is NOT providing legal advice, determining “best practices,” or telling you what to say or do. The course is provided for informational purposes only.

One of the real values of social media is that it is less formal, more personal, spontaneous and real. Comply Socially is here to educate you so you can use social media in the ways that work for you.

There is no way for us to anticipate or discuss every situation that might arise. If you have a question on what to do, or how to handle something, talk to someone familiar with the legal and practical issues of your situation.

Different states, cities, and companies have different laws and rules that apply. If you're not sure, ask before you act.

Understanding Personal Privacy3:27
This lecture explains the privacy rights of individuals which are generally recognized throughout the U.S. under common law and the factors considered in determining an unlawful invasion of privacy.
Understanding Lawful Social Media Monitoring4:36
This lecture covers the main issue employers and managers face if they monitor their employees' digital communications, the privacy rights employees enjoy over their personal email and social media accounts, and what employers can and can’t monitor on computers and mobile devices.

Monitoring Personal Social Media Profiles3:46
This lecture draws on legal precedent to explain why employers should think carefully before monitoring digital employee communications. It covers the sensitive issues surrounding monitoring how employees use personal email and social media accounts in the workplace.
Monitoring PCs and Smartphones3:14
This lecture explains how hardware ownership impacts surveillance rights, laws concerning recording conversations, monitoring text and voicemail messages as well as cases when employers may be able to override legal personal privacy protections. Includes an overview of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, the "business exception", and how the 4th Amendment applies to digital communications.
Job Applicant Screening and Background Checks3:30
This lecture covers the risks of using social media to screen job applicants, which include breaking laws that restrict employers from asking candidates to share social media usernames and passwords, opening yourself up to a discrimination claim and violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Reference Link: http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-franken-call-on-social-intelligence-corp-to-clarify-privacy-practice
Accessing Personal Social Media and Email Accounts3:45
This lecture discusses exceptions under which employers could still request or secure access to an employee's personal social networking accounts.
Understanding Social Media Privacy Law0:51
This lecture encourages managers to become familiar with state laws and employer policies that are specific to them. To review local state social media password laws, visit http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecom/employer-access-to-social-media-passwords.aspx and http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecom/employer-access-to-social-media-passwords-2013.aspx
Shortcomings of Social Media Password Protection Laws2:28
This lecture profile the social media password protection law in the state of Oregon. Whether or not you manage employees in the state of Oregon, to earn your Social Media Privacy for Managers Certificate you are still required watch this lecture and complete the assessment.

Surviellance Liability Review3:09
This lecture examines three (3) specific instances where an employer could be able to justify a legal intrusion into an employee's personal email and social media profiles.
Key Takeaways: Course Review2:59
This lecture recaps many of the important issues covered in this course.
Closing Statement: What You Learned from this Course0:54
This lecture summarizes the personal responsibilities individuals have when they use social media at work.
Bonus for Students Only1:28

Requirements

No prior knowledge of the legal aspects of social media monitoring is required.

Description

Just because you CAN monitor conversations on social media, doesn’t make it lawful.

If you monitor social media, this course could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorney’s fee and damages.

Respect personal privacy rights when you monitor social media conversations and collect meta data.

Learn your right to monitor the use of any computers, smartphones and networks you own or sponsor, what the Electronic Communications Privacy Act requires, how the Fair Credit Reporting Act impacts job applicant screening and how to override social media password protection laws and gain access to personal social media and email accounts.

Who this course is for:

This course is for anyone who conducts social media monitoring for work.

Social Media Monitoring and Privacy Law

What you'll learn

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Course content

Intro to Social Media Monitoring and Privacy Law2 lectures • 5min

Intro to Personal Privacy Rights2 lectures • 8min

Lawful Social Media Monitoring in Practice6 lectures • 18min

Risks of Unlawful Social Media Monitoring Practices4 lectures • 9min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: