Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 14 April 2008 08:27
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
McClelland is quoted in the
News.com.au story as then saying that:: "There needs to be protocols and guidelines developed so companies can protect their own networks. There's no question that breaches of both government and private sector computer networks have occurred already."
Which means that employees must currently be advised that their emails are being snooped on, something that employees must be well aware of by now.
After all, using company resources for personal business – at least, on an ongoing basis with little regard for company time – is something that is frowned upon, and rightly so. You’re at work to work, not to loaf about reading the Internet endlessly or organising your next party.
But how many people in everyday businesses are going to be discussing – in their work emails – anything to do with blowing up electricity grids or hacking sensitive Government networks?
Only an absolute idiot would ever do that, and they aren’t the type of people that are likely to be very successful at hacking into anything.
Which makes this new proposed Government action just another way to erode to privacy of the citizens of Australia.
As Dale Clapperton from Electronic Frontiers Australia, quoted in the
News.com.au story notes: "These new powers will facilitate fishing expeditions into employees' emails and computer use rather than being used to protect critical infrastructure. I'm talking about corporate eavesdropping and witch-hunts ... If an employer wanted to bone someone, they could use these powers."
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