Company vs Privacy (was Re: Gartner Group: DO NOT USE IIS!)

[thomas@xxxxxxxxxxx]

On Wed, 26 September 2001, "Nathan M. Andelin" wrote:

>   Cameras
> hovering the cubicles?  Wire taps on the phone lines?  Where do the rights
> of corporations end?

This gets at what keeps me from absolute commitment either way. I cannot argue 
against the fact that the company pays for the PC, pays for the server, pays 
for the network, etc. There are clearly company property rights involved.

But the company pays for phone service... Does that make every phone call 
company property?

The company pays for the break room... Does that make every conversation 
company property?

If someone sticks their head in my cubicle and we chat, should it be subject to 
recording and even copyright?

I think there are parallels that can be drawn among all such situations and all 
should be treated accordingly. The intent of the message should make it 
obvious. If it's intended private and personal, then the *content* is private 
and personal. It should be just as clear that there are limits. The company 
pays for my cubicle space, but I'm commonly allowed to use some personally. 
Maybe I have pictures of my family on my desk. Maybe I use some floor space to 
set some packages down that I bought during lunch. But I don't use excess space 
as personal storage space. Likewise, I might send or receive personal e-mail, 
but I don't start stashing gigabytes of stuff whenever and for as long as I 
choose.

Abuse and respect go both ways.

Tom Liotta



--
Tom Liotta
The PowerTech Group, Inc.
19426 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
Phone  253-872-7788
Fax  253-872-7904
http://www.400Security.com


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