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Conference Motions on Internet Misuse within BT

26 September 2007

At the TIC Conference 2007, Conference adopted the following Motions on Internet Misuse within BT:

Click to show / hide motion details.

The union has written to BT's Dave Fitzgerald who asked Brian English, BT Group – Employee Relations, to respond on his behalf.

In his reply Brian English stated that he considers "that the company and the CWU have similar objectives regarding the sensitive issue of managing inappropriate use of the internet whereby all reasonable steps are taken to prevent access to sites that are inappropriate, cause offence, or are illegal". He says that in instances where individuals breach the clearly communicated policy they will be dealt with under BT’s discipline procedure that may lead to dismissal.

In response to the union's suggestion to refine website access arrangements whereby all and any inappropriate websites are completely blocked from access he said that "the existing web filter facility blocks many sites in various categories to avoid accessing inappropriate websites. However it is not possible to guarantee that all inappropriate sites can be blocked". He points out hat the list of blocked sites runs to millions of sites and although it is updated daily it is not possible to block entry to all inappropriate sites> It is possible for users to deliberately or mistakenly gain access to those inappropriate sites that have not been blocked.

The union had suggested some form of voluntary opt out from access to the Internet. Whilst BT would be willing to discuss the operational practicality of this option, Brian English said it is "the clear wish of the company to enable individuals to have access to the Internet for business and/or general interest purposes". BT considers an using the web filter facility combined with clear employee communications the best approach to enable individuals to determine what is and is not appropriate for themselves. He suggested that if people do for any reason access an inappropriate site "they can report that to their line manager or advise the appropriate security contacts, thereby limiting the potential of misuse allegations".

Brian English has offered to meet the union to discuss BT's approach to cases involving allegations of Internet misuse and the application of the disciplinary procedure. A further report will be issued once the meeting has taken place.

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