Cell Phones, Privacy, and Technological Voyuerism

[Mousey Girl]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I read a sci-fi novel a while ago (Snow Crash? Maybe) where a woman worked at some customer service place and every single keystroke was recorded and analyzed for efficiency, and her paycheck was calculated accordingly.

When we got our new computers at work they were set to record keystrokes. It doesn't effect the paycheck amount, but will effect wether or not you continue to recieve one.

[Name]

If you notice your work is keylogging you, you can just type in over and over again for awhile,

All work and no play make 'name' a dull boy......

lather, rinse, and repeat until desired results

[Keelboat Captain]

What should we be more afraid of: big brother government, or big brother business?Lately we have been more forgiving with both but is one any safer than the other?

[€uroMeinke]

What intrigues me is the blurring of private and public lives. On the one hand our jobs give us cell phones, laptops, blackberries, so we can be accessible 24/7. Most companies understand there will be some private use of their equipment.

Yet, companies are conceerned about their repution and the impact their employees private activities can have on them. Usually, though comapny's go this direction becasue of public outcry or fear of litigation. It makes me wonder if in the future, your employment may require a certain level of monitored and measurable morality - i.e. no porn/mp3/off color jokes etc.

I think both Companies and the Governement are just reacting to what they think they hear the public saying.

[Prudence]

And to tie this into the other thread and the morals clause -- how long until companies require you to allow tracking software on your home computer to monitor your off-the-clock wanderings? We already have at least one company prohibiting its employees from smoking on their own time. Already many people have to certify that their home systems meet certain standards, in case they bring work home. (Which is nearly always a requirement.)

Locally, a county is requiring employees to commit to engaging in "healthy behaviors" and be interviewed to get certain levels of health benefits. (And the behaviors are so vaguely worded (and include behaviors like wearing seatbelts) that essentially anyone with a pulse qualifies -- begging the question: why? I imagine it's to set the precedent for enforcing more stringent requirements later.)

There are companies (and maybe even rental cars? or am I imagining that?) that track whether you speed in the corporate car, or track specific routes with GPS.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Prudence is scaring me with her scary scary story.

I don't wanna hear it no more!

[Prudence]

Would you like to borrow my tin foil hat?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

No thanks. I may buy a shotgun though.

[Prudence]

I want you to know that I come by my own paranoia honestly. It's in the genes. Seriously - ever seen my dad's website?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I want you to know that I come by my own paranoia honestly. It's in the genes. Seriously - ever seen my dad's website?

I wish my dad were that interesting.