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What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

theatlantic.com

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Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#21

Post by sureaboutthis »

jedberg wrote: post #7
everdev wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> When I asked Mirovic about privacy concerns, he said that KeenCorp does not collect, store, or report any information at the individual level. According to KeenCorp, all messages are “stripped and treated so that the privacy of individual employees is fully protected.” They collect meta data, but it's still a group invasion of privacy. Also, the article reads like a sales pitch for KeenCorp.

> but it's still a group invasion of privacy. You shouldn't expect any privacy regarding anything you do at or for work (other than using the restroom). The email and chat servers are theirs, and they have every right to read the emails. Good companies will at least tell you when they're reading your email, but legally they don't even have to do that.

Especially when it's on company time about company business. It's still unnerving to know that but then, perhaps, it makes one more careful and give more thought to what they're putting out for others to say that might be construed as "on behalf of the company".

Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#22

Post by jcims »

sgift wrote: post #9
jedberg wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but it's still a group invasion of privacy. You shouldn't expect any privacy regarding anything you do at or for work (other than using the restroom). The email and chat servers are theirs, and they have every right to read the emails. Good companies will at least tell you when they're reading your email, but legally they don't even have to do that.

Luckily, this is not the case in Germany. Here such behavior is illegal. We have experience what happens when you give people unrestricted access to data to do with whatever they want. Spoiler: It leads to bad outcomes.

It’s not that cut and dry is it? It depends on whether or not the employer allows personal use of their internet/email infrastructure. If not, and if the user doesn’t have a professional responsibility to handle data that’s protected, employers are legally permitted to view the content.

https://www.mofo.com/resources/publications/employer-surveil...

Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#24

Post by maxxxxx »

mirimir wrote: post #17
gaius wrote: post #12

Back in the ‘90’s we used to say the e in email is for “evidence”

Back in the day, I spent many days skimming email printouts, produced in discovery, and organizing them for review. Defendants were obligated to produce everything relevant, but not necessarily in any order. So basically, they'd dump everything out, mix well, and then pack in boxes. Or at least, that's how it seemed to some of us.

I have heard that was a tactic banks used when they were investigated by Congress after the financial crisis. "you want documents? No problem. Here are several trucks loaded with printouts. Enjoy!".

Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#25

Post by lkramer »

dingaling wrote: post #16
Luc wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised things would be that clear cut even in the USA. Though it's certainly a very American thing for employees to argue that corporations having power over them is the right and proper order of things.

I worked for a UK subsidiary of a US company. Right on the login screen was notification that all use and communication was subject to monitoring. Why would it be otherwise? You are paid to do the company's business with the equipment they provide. It's not a matter of 'power'. Imagine a UPS driver taking the van to run errands for his friends. Few people would argue that it is inappropriate for UPS to track the van…

Just because something is inappropriate at work, it doesn't follow that your employer should have carte blanche to breach your privacy on the off chance that you are doing it.

Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#26

Post by coldtea »

hellweaver666 wrote: post #6

I work for a big firm. Very little of our personal communication happens over email these days. They would have to analyse chat logs instead to really understand what is going on.

Yeah, but that's just a pedantic distinction. Whether it's Slack or email, it all the same once ingested...

Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#28

Post by Uw7yTcf36gTc »

czechdeveloper wrote: post #14
JeanMarcS wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there’s not a Slack plugin yet, we can bet they’re working on it.

Owner of Slack instance can request all data, including direct messages, as far as I remember.

our company moved away from slack distinctly because it was too cumbersome for them to look into a person's chat logs. IIRC they also notify the user when a manager requested/looked at their logs. They moved to a local instance of Mattermost for 'privacy' reasons, but it was the opposite of what you would think. The privacy isn't of the user, but rather they wanted a lack of privacy.

Re: What Your Boss Could Learn by Reading the Whole Company’s Emails

#29

Post by qoi2ijds0 »

czechdeveloper wrote: post #14
JeanMarcS wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there’s not a Slack plugin yet, we can bet they’re working on it.

Owner of Slack instance can request all data, including direct messages, as far as I remember.

Yes. Also, just think about the amount of proprietary / business sensitive info people are sharing on slack... even though they KNOW slack is a 3rd party
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