Courts Rule Employers Can Search Employee Text Messages
Ownership of phone contents an issue
In the immediate aftermath of the Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City a utility company employee took a memorable picture of a fireman bringing a small child out of the smoking rubble. The utility argued successfully that they owned the image because the employee was on the clock and tool the picture as part of his normal work duties of investigating utility disruptions. These days a company issued camera phone would most likely be the tool used. So, would the company own the text messages, picture messages, notes and other information on the device? I believe they would if created on the clock or if the employee's duties included creation of similar items.
The bottom line is if you choose to use an employer provided or reimbursed cell phone, you choose to give up any rights to what's on it. You also choose to give up any right to privacy in text messages, picture messages, and even in who you call. Co...
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What if you receive a dicount on your private phone because of your job?
Where I live, Verizon offers 12% dicount to fire fighters in our city. Does that give the city ? By accepting the discount, is my phone no longer strictly private?
Where I live, Verizon offers 12% dicount to fire fighters in our city. Does that give the city ? By accepting the discount, is my phone no longer strictly private?
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PUBLICLY ISSUES MOBILE PHONES (only)
Make sure my boss knows this.
Also, that it does not apply to private orginizations
Also, that it does not apply to private orginizations
Exactly, they pay the tab its their phone, not yours. Its just for you to use. This would be quite different if it was your own personal phone.
All this means is that this ruling referred to public agencies. No ruling either way was made about private ones.
Essentially, the best rule of thumb comes down to who paid for the phone and who is paying for the service.
Essentially, the best rule of thumb comes down to who paid for the phone and who is paying for the service.
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Sorry justfinethanku, private companies do this on your company email already. No reason they can't do it on phones *they* gave to you and *they* pay the monthly tab for so you can conduct *their* business on it. Whaddya think Enterprise Servers do; t...
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It's a basic concept
that a lot of people do not seem to understand. If a phone is give to you by your employer, it is their phone and they can go through it's contents any time they want. So therefore you should not be using any company property for personal use.
And if you refuse to let them check the content of the phone they let you use, they can fire you. if you work as an at will employee they don't even need a reason to fire you.
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Another reason for dual-sim phones...
Keep your personal life and your business life separate and still only carry one device. Who wants to start making dual-sim smart phones?
I'll make you one tomorrow 😉
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Who needs dual-SIM phones when there's Google Voice?
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kingstu said:
Keep your personal life and your business life separate and still only carry one device. Who wants to start making dual-sim smart phones?
That would great if the company's phone service is AT&T or T-Mo...
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Nextel has offered second line service on the same phone for years. Your employer gets a bill for their number, and you get one for yours.
muchdrama said:
...no sextin' at work.
What!
People just don't think
Although I don't agree with the ruling, I wouldn't be dumb enough to use a company(public) supplied phone for any personal reasons especially if it's something that could get me in trouble.
Just like with company e mail, gotta think about if you'll get in trouble before you hit send
Just like with company e mail, gotta think about if you'll get in trouble before you hit send
People use the company web and other stuff as it is their own. You go to work to , well, work!
Blackberry Messenger
Why would anyone use anything but Blackberry Messenger to conduct illicit affairs?
