Earlier this week, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a bill that prohibits employers from requiring or requesting that employees or applicants reveal the username sand passwords for personal accounts on websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Governor Quinn, in signing the bill, said it was necessary to “protect workers and their right to personal privacy.” Illinois in is now the second state to enact this type legislation, following the lead of Maryland, which enacted a similar law in May.

This common-sense measure recognizes the reality that Americans are increasingly using online social networks to communicate with family and friends, share photos and express their own political views. By seeking usernames and passwords for these online networks, current and prospective employers are seeking to bypass privacy settings and gain access to the materials that users intended to keep private.

Some of this information could relate to things that employers are prohibited from asking about, including marital status, religion or sexual orientation – and revealing this information could lead to discrimination in hiring.

Similar bills have been introduced in Congress, the Password Protection Act (PPA) and the Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA). So far, the legislation has not moved, but hopefully the Illinois law will help spur action in Washington.

Personal privacy is still possible in an age of technology when we increasingly live our lives online – but in some cases the government must ensure that privacy is protected. The Illinois law is a good start.

Cross-posted from the National ACLU website.

WJBD Radio reported on the ACLU of Illinois’ inquiry about automated license plate readers. ACLU Illinois Staff Attorney Karen Sheley said they want to know how the information collected by these agencies is used because there aren’t sufficient regulations on many of the technologies.

"Law enforcement are using all kinds of technologies to gather information about people, where they go, and tract all kinds of behaviors,” said Sheley.

Read the whole thing.

The Windy City Times wrote a feature on the plaintiffs in the ACLU of Illinois’ marriage suit. Kathie Spegal and Lynn Sprout, one of the nine couples represented by the ACLU, want the freedom to marry to show their love and commitment to everyone.

"We are in love," says Kathie, a case manager. "We want to be married. That is what people in our family who are in love do."

Read the whole thing.