From: believer@telepath.com Subject: IP: Privacy: Companies admit spying on staff Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 12:14:18 -0500 To: believer@telepath.com Source: The Age (Australia) http://www.theage.com.au:80/daily/980910/news/news19.html Companies admit spying on staff By LEON GETTLER More than one in two of Australia's largest companies carry out video surveillance of their employees and the general public, a survey has found. The survey revealed that 94 per cent of the companies also monitored employees' phone conversations, electronic mail and Internet usage although the focus appeared to be mostly on volume and frequency rather than content. For example, 16 per cent monitored phone usage while the conversations themselves were only monitored by 2 per cent. Similarly, email usage was monitored by 13 per cent while 6 per cent of the companies were combing through the actual messages. Scrutiny of Internet usage would also reveal the web sites that employees had visited. The PricewaterhouseCoopers survey found that 65 per cent of companies regarded monitoring as a normal part of employment and 85 per had informed their employees that they were being watched. However, they were often not as forthcoming about seemingly minor details, like time and place. PricewaterhouseCoopers information and security partner Mr Stephen Woolley said there was a better than 50-50 chance that Australians would be filmed or recorded at some stage during the day. In the case of the general public, it would be without their consent. ``As is the practice of companies both here and overseas, this information will probably go on file for some years,'' Mr Woolley said. About half the companies said information gathered in Australia on customers, employees and the general public was sent overseas for international data bases. The study also revealed alarming gaps in the privacy guidelines of some companies. Only 35 per cent had formally documented privacy policies in place and 38 per cent said they did not undertake any monitoring to ensure compliance with in-house privacy guidelines. Eight out of 10 organisations did not require staff to undertake privacy training. The survey covered 65 of Australia's largest companies spanning across all major industries including utilities, telecommunications, natural resources, retail, credit, banking and finance, insurance and manufacturing. Based on their total turnover and size of assets, the companies that responded to the survey would represent more than half of corporate Australia. More than one in 10 companies did not inform staff that they could be monitored. Published by The Age Online Pty Ltd ACN 069 962 885 ©1998 David Syme & Co Ltd ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- ********************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo@majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address ********************************************** www.telepath.com/believer **********************************************