ARTICLE · 01 DECEMBER 2015

The Ashley Madison hack: the employment law implications

Coleman Greig Lawyers

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This hack raises questions about privacy rights and the improper use of company email and internet facilities by staff.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

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The Ashley Madison hack a couple of months ago had far wider-reaching implications than potentially revealing the infidelities of more than 30 million users. It also has employment law implications.

The hack raises questions about the improper use of company email and internet facilities by employees. Do you know what "acceptable use" of your work email or internet really means? What happens if you have a personal tablet or mobile phone or laptop that you also use for work related purposes from time to time? Does that mean that the footprints of your personal usage are also downloaded to and kept on the company's IT system? Can you be held accountable for things that you do in your own personal time, but that are downloaded to the company's IT system?

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