>Particularly this bit about IT staff reading private communications worries
>me in this context.
In the organisations that I have been in where this takes place, the request
has to be sorted by a senior manager within IT, and not just a "normal"
techie. Policies and procedures should be comprehensive enough to ensure
that this takes place as your concerns are, in my opinion, very valid.
Simon Howarth.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nigel Roberts
Sent: 13 June 2006 15:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Monitoring for Swear words
I think that possibly any such interception may contravene the human
rights convention for those places which are classified as a public
authority.
I'm not up on the recent case law, but ISTR that wasnt there a judgment
regarding telephone recording and interception which might be applicable?
Particularly this bit about IT staff reading private communications
worries me in this context.
Carter, Antoinette (MCS) wrote:
> The one part that I think really goes too far is the "requiring a member
> of ICT to read any blocked mail". Is a member of the IT team an
> appropriate person to judge what is or is not acceptable behaviour?
> Surely, they have better things to do. There is probably more mileage
> out of arguing that it's a waste of time; and to achieve what?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tinsley, Chris
> Sent: 13 June 2006 11:43
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [data-protection] Monitoring for Swear words
>
> Thanks for replies
>
> I have many problems with this sort of monitoring.
>
> It was introduced without the users prior knowledge (although there is
> mention of monitoring in the email policy).
>
> The list of bad words is not available to the people who are likely to
> transgress.
>
> It is automatic, requiring a member of ICT to read any blocked email and
> decide whether it is appropriate. Do I really want these people reading
> my private emails.
>
> I am an adult, I can decide which words are good or bad.
>
> It engenders an air of mistrust between employer and employee.
>
> It seems that I am the only person in WCC to complain about this
> monitoring. I shall have to start my Treat Us Like Adults (TULA)
> campaign all on my own.
>
> (Incidentally the email below reached me so I am beginning to wonder
> what is being blocked.)
>
> Chris Tinsley
> Wiltshire County Council
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C.B.Bayliss [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris
> Bayliss
> Sent: 13 June 2006 10:28
> To: Tinsley, Chris
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Monitoring for Swear words
>
> On Tue, Jun 13, 2006 at 09:29:52AM +0100, Tinsley, Chris wrote:
>
>> Did any one see this article about the perils of monitoring for Swear
>> words
>>
>>
>>
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/30/uemail.x
>
>> ml
>>
>> We have recently been told at WCC that ICT are now monitoring for
>> "swear" words at the email gateway. At WCC we have a policy which
>> allows limited private use of email as long as it is not offensive or
>> inappropriate. Offensiveness and inappropriateness is in the eye of
>>
> the
>
>> beholder, words between friends will have differing appropriateness
>>
> than
>
>> words between customers and clients.
>>
>> The list of words which are block has not been published (probably to
>> avoid offending staff).
>>
>> Do people think that a policy which automatically monitors and blocks
>> private as well as business emails using a list of words considered
>> inappropriate is a good idea?
>>
>
> As the article you cite illustrates, blocking on a list of words is not
> a good idea whatever it is for. Before effective spam filtering
> software was available, we tried a keyword and keyphrase filter (on a
> purely opt-in basis). We had some success with phrases, but learnt that
> there were very few single words that could be blocked safely.
>
> There are problems words which can have innocuous meanings - erection
> was mentioned, but there are plenty of others - eg box, member, rimming,
> cock, screw, shag, etc. You can't sensibly block them, but if you allow
> the words through, the filter isn't doing what you want.
>
> There is also simple matter of false positives in people's names. We
> had numerous complaints from people - for example a Dr Wank, a Dr
> Cunther and a Richard Dick (I am not joking).
>
> Ther other problem is of mis-spelt words getting through (there are many
> variations for the F word - possibly one of the few words that it is
> safe to block). We did try allowing for variations in spelling, but
> this produced complaints from an engineer mailing about a Fokker
> aircraft and physisists trying to discuss the Hartee-Fock theory.
>
> We were only trying to reduce incoming spam. There are now more
> effective methods that we deploy.
>
> The whole idea of censoring mail by keywords illustrates the double
> standards applied to written elecronic and paper based communications.
> I doubt if many organisations open letters and screen them for swear
> words.
>
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