PLANET Internet Monitor is watching - be careful what you type

[Bob Crabtree]

Ever felt as if your PC activity was being watched by your boss?

Well, you're probably right to be afraid, judging by some of the clever hardware on show at COMPUTEX, such as PLANET's IM-1000 Internet Monitor.

Find out more in this COMPUTEX headline.

[s1lv3r]

I wouldn't say 'afraid' as such... products like this are unlikely to get high levels of usage in businesses with well defined policies already in place and enforced.

Everyone in employment here should know their employee handbook contents on issues of privacy and monitoring.
If a solution like this infringes on an employers published policy, it is likely (although few precedents exist) that they are acting unlawfully.
On the other hand if a policy doesn't exist, the employer has no right, other than can be proved reasonable before a court, to monitor at all.

The humans rights act and data privacy laws are clear in that all monitoring has to be with a). express consent or b). with business positive and proven evidence backed reasoning. Spontaneous, 'nosey-parker' type snooping is very difficult for an employer to justify.