Now anyone who follows my articles knows I don’t get upset very easily. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I wrote a Rant.
But this has really steamed me up so I thought I would write about it.
Now for those who don’t know, Australia is a Free country. (As free, if not more so than the U.S or Canada). The new Australian government has decided to introduce new legislation to give employers the right to check any or all emails sent or received by their employees on work email addresses without your knowledge. The excuse, Cyber-Terrorism… Now I’ve got no problem with all the security upgrades worldwide since 9/11 but this is my eyes is going too far. What happened to privacy??? What happened to civil rights??? What happened to freedom of speech???
No more are we going to be able to call the boss a ‘wanker’ in inter-office emails. (If you don’t know what ‘wanker’ means hit this link ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanker . And yes, the picture above is of a young Paul Hogan in character as one of his personas, Leo Wanker). Now, most of us are guilty of saying a bad word or two about the boss to peers in the workplace. Some of this conversation usually spills over into emails.Now, would you send that same email if there was a chance your boss might intercept it? Probably not…
Don’t get me wrong, some work places need to monitor emails for security purposes. (Law enforcement, security institutions and military installations are just a couple that come to mind). But in your stock standard law firm or accounting company I feel that tyrant type bosses are going to take advantage of this new power.
An example would be;
(Before the new law)
”Hi Tony,The boss has really been riding me in the last week. If the bastard would start to work on the project at hand more than his bloody golf handycap then life would be a heap easier…
Take CareFred”
(After the new law)
”Dear Mr Anthony J Wright,
Sorry for not replying to your inter office emails for the last week or so. I have several meetings this morning but am totally on top of the situation.
By the way, I heard it around the office that Mr (Insert bosses name here) is a fantastic golfer and could hold his own with the likes of Tiger Woods.
Anyway, work to do…
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Frederick Wrong.”
Ok, I will get off my soapbox now and open up the floor. Do you agree with this type of security upgrade or not? (And is there any such legislation and where else?)(Or am I just way out of line and should just submit to loosing another part of my privacy?) Comment away…
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