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Re: Privacy




"... user ... understands and agrees they [sic] are [sic] specifically
waiving any expectation or right to privacy in their [sic] communications,
data, programs, or other personal information stored, displayed, accessed,
communicated, published, or transmitted" on the college's "Technology
Facilities" ie computer system.

1) Do I remember correctly that this is an ongoing court case somewhere?

I don't know about court cases but this isn't uncommon in industrial
settings. Basically, whoever pays the bill pretty much gets to set
the terms of usage, especially if they pay your salary too.

2) Are these rules similar to the rules of *your* system?

No, fortunately. We don't have any particular rules. Our Information
Services people and upper administration seem (for now) to trust the
judgement of the faculty to not abuse the priviledge of free net
access by occupying working hours with non-working things. It seems
to work pretty well. Just as with students, most faculty will live up
to the expectations you have of them or will at least try to. Also
only about half our faculty actually have any sort of reliable
access. And faculty such as myself, who are interested in playing
around in the ether, seem generally to have enough integrity to
insure that there is some way they can do so without occupying work
time.

3) How do the members of this list feel about this issue?

I think it stinks. Treat people like children and that is what you
will get. Assume they have some modicum of judgement and integrity
and they generally will.


4) Where might a discussion of this issue be seen on the Internet?


Try the Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org on the web
but I think they also have an email newsletter). The EFF is an
electronic civil rights lobbying organization founded by Mitch Kapor
of Lotus fame. You should be able to find most anything you want
there along with up to date legal opinions.


Paul J. Camp "The Beauty of the Universe
Assistant Professor of Physics consists not only of unity
Coastal Carolina University in variety but also of
Conway, SC 29526 variety in unity.
pjcamp@csd1.coastal.edu --Umberto Eco
(803)349-2227 The Name of the Rose
fax: (803)349-2926