In Australia, Bosses May Get Power To Snoop On Emails

Numerous readers noted the proposal by the Australian government for legislation to allow employers to snoop on employees' email and IM conversations. This is being proposed in the name of protecting the infrastructure from terrorism. The attorney-general cited the Estonian cyber-attacks as a reason why such employer monitoring is necessary in Australia — never mind that the attacks were perpetrated by a lone 20-year-old and not by a foreign government or terrorist. The law permitting intelligence agencies to snoop on citizens without permission expires this June, leading to the government's urgency to extend and expand it. The chairman of Electronic Frontiers Australia said, "These new powers will facilitate fishing expeditions into employees' emails and computer use rather than being used to protect critical infrastructure. I'm talking about corporate eavesdropping and witch-hunts... If an employer wanted to [sack] someone, they could use these powers."

Re:Oh where

[daranz]

At home, on a LAN separate from the Internet.

Re:Oh where

[jobst]

make yourself a linux box not connected to the internet with two accounts, send an email from one account to the other ... make sure you close the blinds so no person can read your screen and keyboard.

Re:Oh where

[JustShootMe]

Oh, but it you're using a CRT, make sure you're in a faraday cage too. And I'm not sure what they can do as far as listening on LCD displays, but I'm sure there's something.

Re:Sound stupid to me....

[setagllib]

Hey, take it easy on the MCSE :)

Re:Farewell, 9-5 Slashdot...

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess this is the last time I'll be posting from my (Australian) work computer.

It sure will!

~The Boss

Re:Technology will overtake this

[ozmanjusri]

I will.

But then again, I'm a self-employed masochist.

While you are busy...

[Rickus Dickus]

Dear Australian government,

Since you are so eager to protect your country from evil bearded terrorists, I would like to suggest some other sensible measures:
- employers can beat their employees with a stick whenever they do something suspicious ('suspicious' should be left vague)
- employers can impound the passports of foreign or poor employees and lock them up all day in overcrowded shacks with no airconditioning.
- employers can strip-search male AND female employees for dangerous substances that could be used for making bombs.
- employers can cut of the beards of their employees, especially when they have darker skin or look suspicious in any other way.

I am sure this will make your society more harmonious and safe.