Fight Internet Filtering?
Posted by Connie Muse on Mon, Mar 09, 2009 @ 01:26 PM
Today I read an article from a company who offers a service that allows employees to bypass any content filtering rules that their employer has put into place. Of course, they claim that they're serving a higher purpose. I quote, "Thanks to sites like this one however, you can fight back and access the web the way it was meant to be accessed."
Here's my take. The employer has purchased computers, internet access and, to some extent, the employees' time for the purpose of producing revenue for the company. Internet access at work is the employer's property and they are not only entitled to restrict its use, but are also required to in some cases. Employers face huge liability issues for sexual harassment, fraud, music and software piracy and lots of other issues that can arise out of inappropriate use of the internet.
I'm guessing that the marketers of the internet filtering bypass sites wouldn't be any happier than you would to find out that your company is going under (and taking your job with it) because of a security breach or lawsuit.
Restrictions like these aren't put in place to subvert your freedoms. They are a necessary part of reducing the huge number of risks that businesses face online. And risk reduction is an important piece of keeping business profitable and people employed.