Calif. Senate passes e-mail privacy bill

The California Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would require employers to notify workers if they plan to read their e-mail, track Internet usage or use any electronic devices to track them. The bill requires companies to give a one-time written notice to employees that explains what will be monitored.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach), passed the Senate on a 23-13 vote and now goes to the Assembly, where it's expected to be heard in June. Bowen authored three similar bills that were vetoed in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

way to go cali

we need more privacy keep your nose out of irrelevant details that dont concern you

[kscherry2000]

RE: way to go cali

Actually, it should concern a company what their employees are using email or the internet for. There are liability issues for the company at stake, but every company should have security policies that outline how email and internet access are to be used and tools should be in place for blocking unacceptible websites or from sending certain types of emails (ones containing viruses or innappropriate words). Someone told me that they worked at a company where a person was fired because he was using the company server to host a website and store data. He didn't know the specific website or the type, but the fact that someone was willing to do that because they knew the company was not watching (until they installed software to monitor access and certain sites). This is the type of activity that needs to be stopped and even if only 1% of the working population were to abuse email and/or internet, it is still too many.
What happens if a guy at his desk decides to spam or send a virus to the local power company because he got a high bill and was not able to be satisified about a complaint he raised? Should the company website be taken down in reply to the attack? No of course not, but the company could be held responsible for allowing the spamming to happen.
Use of email and internet at work is not a right or guarantee, it is a privilege and one that can and should be taken away if abused. I work in computer security and I always assume the company has tools to watch where I go and what emails I send. It means I have to keep my head and not do anything stupid.

way to go cali

we need more privacy keep your nose out of irrelevant details that dont concern you

[kscherry2000]

RE: way to go cali

Actually, it should concern a company what their employees are using email or the internet for. There are liability issues for the company at stake, but every company should have security policies that outline how email and internet access are to be used and tools should be in place for blocking unacceptible websites or from sending certain types of emails (ones containing viruses or innappropriate words). Someone told me that they worked at a company where a person was fired because he was using the company server to host a website and store data. He didn't know the specific website or the type, but the fact that someone was willing to do that because they knew the company was not watching (until they installed software to monitor access and certain sites). This is the type of activity that needs to be stopped and even if only 1% of the working population were to abuse email and/or internet, it is still too many.
What happens if a guy at his desk decides to spam or send a virus to the local power company because he got a high bill and was not able to be satisified about a complaint he raised? Should the company website be taken down in reply to the attack? No of course not, but the company could be held responsible for allowing the spamming to happen.
Use of email and internet at work is not a right or guarantee, it is a privilege and one that can and should be taken away if abused. I work in computer security and I always assume the company has tools to watch where I go and what emails I send. It means I have to keep my head and not do anything stupid.