NEW TOOLS ENHANCE MONITORING OF INTERNET ACTIVITY ON (the company)'S NETWORK
With the ever-changing and highly sophisticated technologies available, (the company) has acquired more advanced tools to further strengthen our ability to monitor inappropriate internet activity on the company's network.
Effective immediately, (the company) will commence automated monitoring of the content of your internet activity to detect and track certain inappropriate and illegal uses of the company's electronic resources. In particular, the monitoring will detect and track sexual content and pornographic material, including child pornography. Any uses of (the company)'s electronic resources for the exchange, viewing, transmission or receipt of pornographic material, particularly child pornography, is strictly prohibited and possibly criminal. Improper and unlawful uses of (the company)'s internet access and other electronic resources detected by these or any other means will be subject to progressive discipline, up to and including immediate termination. Activity involving child pornography and other criminal conduct will be dealt with most severely, including possible referral for prosecution.
Please review (link to company policy) if you have questions about the appropriate use of the company's communications systems. The company expects every associate to adhere to high standards of conduct and to promote behavior that complies with (the company)'s policies and the law. The security and appropriate use of (the company)'s network is critical to the success of our business operations and the well-being of our work environment. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
So, first I have to worry about the NSA and the FBI searching my e-mail and blogs for any mention of Bush or Al-Qaeda, and now I have to worry about my job reading my e-mails over my shoulder. I'm not saying I'm searching Google for kiddie porn or donkey shows in Tijuana, but I do have e-mails I receive that are probably not work related. There's a web site called the anonymizer (www.anonymizer.com), but even that site was restricted by our blockers. I can't view the Onion at work, Landover Baptist, and some pages on Snopes. Apparently, my company's need to protect me extends to profanity, tasteless and "gross" content. I'm just waiting now until my access to www.blogger.com is restricted, too. A lot of companies are doing that. However, at this time, I can still access www.dilbert.com, so life isn't all bad. I realize I work for a private company, and they can do pretty much whatever they want, but I think this extends just a little into the right to privacy and the right to free speech. I guess the critical question is how much can a private company restrict your civil liberties and still be within their rights? I understand that my right to free speech does NOT extend to me saying "fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck" all day long. And the right to privacy does not protect me when performing illegal acts (i.e. kiddie porn). But does it give my company the right to intercept and read my e-mails to determine if they conform to company standards? This is an issue becoming more and more complex in today's world where companies have to compete with the Internet for the employee's productivity. I have heard studies that show that productivity goes down in direct proportion to the amount of Internet access. I may have to see what other employees online are saying. This has never been an issue with my company until now.
First Major Underreported Story of 2006
Did you hear about this on ANY of the major news networks? The Cherokee nation has broken with Christian tradition and approved gay marriage. Right here in middle-America (Oklahoma).
Flaming Mouse of Death
Apparently, the story about the flaming mouse catching the house on fire may not be accurate. I'm actually a little relieved.
Bill to Impeach Bush
A bill introduced in the House of Represenatives in December to investigate whether Bush should be impeached. As near as I can tell, it's stuck in the Committee on Rules.
Well, Duh
And,furthers futher proof that Gore won. Evidently, double votes were not counted. Some people hated Bush so badly that they voted for Gore AND wrote him in. Thousands of them. And the courts would not take these votes into consideration when deciding who won Florida.
Bush Can't Count
Bush recently announced that the number of dead Iraqis may number up to 30,000. His handlers immediately dumbed down that number, but evidence points to as many as 180,000-500,000 Iraqis dead.
The Top 30 Facts about Chuck Norris
Silly, stupid, and addictively funny. "Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King--and got one!"
I had more, but I wanted to concentrate on the memo my company sent out, so additional stories will be posted tomorrow.
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