The Data Protection Commissioner Elizabeth France is to issue a
framework in September setting out how and when employers can
monitor the use of e-mail and the internet by their employees or
track their location by mobile phones.31 Jul 2000
The Code of Practice aims to give a clear policy for employers. Ms France said:
“British citizens have become much more rights aware... They may not know about the Acts specifically, but they know they have rights in relation to their personal data and they are beginning to ask questions.
“There is a whole area of rights here that have to be balanced against freedom of expression and the proper interests of business.”
There has been controversy from privacy groups and others over the new Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which received Royal Assent on Friday of last week. The new Act gives authorities certain powers to intercept e-mail and other communications.
An investigation is being carried out by Ms France's office into a recent breach of Data Protection rules by Powergen, when around 2,000 names, addresses and credit card numbers of customers were accidentally revealed on the company’s web site.