8 ms·
You are indeed entitled to privacy on your own equipment. Why should you be entitled to privacy on employer-owned equipment?
by Hnrobert42 5y ago
You are indeed entitled to privacy on your own equipment. Why should you be entitled to privacy on employer-owned equipment?
- okasaki 5y agoAre you entitled to privacy on employer-owned toilets?
- aroundthfur 5y agoWhat exactly do you want to say with this? Are you comparing prevention of stealing intellectual property with taking a shit?
- okasaki 5y agoNo? I'm responding to the poster implying that we're not entitled to privacy on employer-owned equipment.
- Froedlich 5y agoWhether you're entitled to it or not, you'd be foolish to expect it. The last corporate IT job I had, they expected me to use my personal cell phone for job-related tasks. No, I didn't want their malware running on my phone, nor did I want to upgrade to an expensive cellular data plan for the required connectivity. If they wanted me to have a phone for their business, they should provide one. Management and HR were quite upset. I suggested they check the state Labor Board. Shortly after, I was given a purchase authorization to buy a company phone and service.
- igetspam 5y agoIf you're worried about theft, hopefully you've disabled Bluetooth and USB because I can move a hell of a lot of data without a network device. Also, if this is a legit concern, you may have a hiring problem (or you work for .gov or on .gov contracts exclusively.)
- Hnrobert42 5y agoIt’s not just employees who leak data from corporate devices. Malware often exfiltrates data through compromised, “benign” websites.
- Hnrobert42 5y agoToilets are provided as a convenience by employers to perform entirely personal/non-business functions. A better an analogy would be a desk phone. Does the employer have the right to record phone calls if an announcement is made to all parties?
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- fulafel 5y agoThere's no reason why ownership of equipment would have a bearing on my basic rights, just like they have no effect on my enjoyment of other basic legally protected human rights.
- alecbz 5y agoI mean, one can have whatever view of rights they choose, but many rights are often considered to be contextual. E.g., in the US, you have a right to not have your picture taken indoors, but outside in public spaces you don't have this right. You have a right to do more or less whatever you want with your personal laptop, but your agreement with your employer generally implies that you should only use a work computer for work tasks.
- Froedlich 5y agoEach of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the various territories have different laws on that.
- Hnrobert42 5y agoLet’s say I am a farmer who owns a tractor. I provide it to you to work my land. I request that you not use it on your adjacent farm. You agree. Do I have the right to watch where you drive it? I am not trying to trap you. I am genuinely trying to figure out where the lines are.
- oasisbob 5y agoFor the same reason I'd expect privacy in an employer-owned bathroom.
- Hnrobert42 5y agoInteresting. That is a fair point. What if your employer provided you a laptop with two user accounts - one for work and one for personal business?