Tech & Rights

Employers May Monitor Employees' Private Conversations

A Romanian man went to the European Court of Human Rights after he was dismissed from his job for using work instant messenger for personal conversations. The court found in Bărbulescu v. Romania that employers have...

by Dollores Benezic
(Image: Nimbuzz - Flickr/CC content)

A Romanian man went to the European Court of Human Rights after he was dismissed from his job for using work instant messenger for personal conversations. The court found in Bărbulescu v. Romania that employers have the right to monitor employees' conversations. The right to privacy must be balanced with the legitimate interest of the employer, said the court. Only one judge did not agree with the decision and submitted a separate opinion, which argued that the dismissal was too harsh because the employer did not have a clear policy on Internet use at work.

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