[Hadrian (OP)]

Companies Read Employee E-mail
Reuters Jun, 02, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- Big Brother is not only watching but he is also reading your e-mail.

According to a new study, about a third of big companies in the United States and Britain hire employees to read and analyze outbound e-mail as they seek to guard against legal, financial or regulatory risk.

full story: http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/cars/

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

[moonfire]

Where is democracy here?  Hmmmm, thanks Hadrian!  LOL

"Lo" Loretta

[another_someone]

Nothing new about this, nor anything particularly undemocratic about it.

E-mail is inherently insecure, and it should be recognised that this is a design limitation of e-mail.  The argument goes that the company has a right to know what you do with their equipment, so if you are using their equipment for private purposes, they regard themselves as having a right to know for what you are using it.

The moral of the story is that if you want privacy, encrypt it, and better yet, use your own computer and encrypt it.

It could be worse.  Many years ago I heard a story where an airline, fearing that its staff were steeling from passenger luggage or cargo, and were somehow using the staff toilets to move the stolen goods out, had CCTV cameras hidden in the ceiling of the toilets, which the staff only found out about when a camera fell out of the ceiling of the toilet cubicle he was in.

At least, at GCHQ, I understand they are somewhat more open about it.  I understand that anybody visiting GCHQ (e.g. maintenance personnel) are accompanied everywhere, including to the toilets (no exceptions).

George

[moonfire]

quote:Originally posted by another_someone

Nothing new about this, nor anything particularly undemocratic about it.

LOL  It was a joke...we all have to sign waivers at most major corporations here about emails, internet usuage, and etc...


E-mail is inherently insecure, and it should be recognised that this is a design limitation of e-mail.  The argument goes that the company has a right to know what you do with their equipment, so if you are using their equipment for private purposes, they regard themselves as having a right to know for what you are using it.

Absolutely!  It is also, a great measurement of productivity and etc..too!

The moral of the story is that if you want privacy, encrypt it, and better yet, use your own computer and encrypt it.

I agree with you!

It could be worse.  Many years ago I heard a story where an airline, fearing that its staff were steeling from passenger luggage or cargo, and were somehow using the staff toilets to move the stolen goods out, had CCTV cameras hidden in the ceiling of the toilets, which the staff only found out about when a camera fell out of the ceiling of the toilet cubicle he was in.

This is going a bit far though!  I would definitely seek legal action on this matter as an employee as I am sure they did not sign a waiver for this!  Telephone monitoring, yes, emails, yes, internet usuage, yes, and etc!

At least, at GCHQ, I understand they are somewhat more open about it.  I understand that anybody visiting GCHQ (e.g. maintenance personnel) are accompanied everywhere, including to the toilets (no exceptions).

George

Sounds like a bunch of BS to me and would love to sue the lights out of a company who would invade my privacy in the bathrooms![]

"Lo" Loretta