Stop Spying Bosses Act (Senate, 2026)
Federal Stop Spying Bosses Act (Proposed, 2026)
United States · Stop Spying Bosses Act, introduced June 18, 2026, U.S. Senate (Markey/Schatz/Booker et al.)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Private employers with 11+ covered workers; public agencies; congressional and executive-branch workplaces
- Enforced by
- Federal — enforcement mechanism not in available coverage; bill text pending
The Stop Spying Bosses Act, introduced June 18, 2026 in the U.S. Senate by Senators Markey, Schatz, and Booker, would sharply limit what data employers can collect on workers and how they can use it. Under the bill, employers could only collect data strictly necessary for a defined legitimate work purpose, and would be prohibited from monitoring union activity, political or religious views, immigration status, off-duty conduct, or health information. Biometric data collection — fingerprints, voiceprints, iris scans, facial maps, gait patterns — would require express consent and a legitimate work purpose. The bill would also prohibit using collected data to predict worker behavior, emotions, or beliefs unrelated to job performance. Companion legislation is the Senate No Robot Bosses Act (also introduced June 18, 2026). Senate companion to the House-side No Robot Bosses Act (HB 6371).
Who is protected: US workers (employees, applicants) at employers with 11+ workers, including public-sector workers
Legal detail
Senate bill (introduced June 18, 2026; bill number not yet in coverage). Prohibits employer collection or use of worker data except where strictly necessary for a defined legitimate work purpose; bars use to identify union activity, concerted activity, immigration status, political/religious views, off-duty conduct, or health status; prohibits biometric data collection without express consent and work-nexus; bars inferential use to predict behavior/emotions/beliefs unrelated to job. Applies to private employers with 11+ covered workers, public agencies, and congressional/executive workplaces. Covers applicants as well as current workers. Companion to the Senate No Robot Bosses Act and House HB 6371. Endorsed by ACLU, AFL-CIO, CDT, CWA, EPIC, NNU, NELP, SEIU.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Citation | Stop Spying Bosses Act, introduced June 18, 2026, U.S. Senate (Markey/Schatz/Booker et al.) |
| Topics | AI hiring and employment · consumer data privacy · automated decision-making |
| Bill text | Senators Markey, Schatz, Introduce Legislation to Halt Automating Workplace Decisions, Worker Surveillance — Sen. Markey press release |
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