Users who Dugg This
alexleo975
2665 Followers
Frugalfigure
-7 Followers
blindbirds
297 Followers
Scenic Anemia
2645 Followers
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
Am I the only one who thinks this isn't much of a big deal?
A lot of companies block the internet entirely. Not even allowing you to check your e-mail. I don't get it... why does one need to read up on "controversial opinion" AT WORK anyway?
hipmanJul 7, 2010
You don't need to surf digg , play games or watch porn at work but people do it.
gamerxr72Jul 7, 2010
Yes, and if your employer blocked digg it would be well within their rights to do so.
obsidian743Jul 7, 2010
It's the principal of the matter: no one -- let alone a government agency -- should be censoring free speech, especially for the reason of something being of a "controversial opinion". While it might not technically be illegal, it's the antithesis to Constitutional spirit, specifically the Bill of Rights. Not only that, but it's a nasty, slippery slope.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
You know that "slippery slope" is considered to be a logical fallacy, yes? I'd much rather see government employees doing stuff like, I don't know, WORKING rather than tooling around on the Internet. It would be a huge breach of Constitutional rights if the workers were forbidden from viewing or commenting on those types of sites in their free time, but when they're on the clock? Frak that - quit slacking and get back to work.
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
They can still go home to their computers and say or read whatever they want. Hardly a slippery slope.
eblofeltJul 7, 2010
I'm pretty big on free speech, but think this is a non-issue. They are blocking sites on the computers used by their employees while on the job. Were this regulating what the employees were doing on their equipment or in their own time, I would be concerned.
My only concern is that the TSA workers will have even more of a chip on their shoulder now.
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
TSA employees should be using their work internet connection for WORK maybe? And not for surfing around random blogs with "controversial opinions"
milkmageJul 7, 2010
WHAT THE f**k FREE SPEECH?
the TSA is saying you can't read some stuff using work resources.
they're not saying the "controversial" opinions can't be written.
it sounds like "controversial" in this case is a euphemism for games, sex and violence
The memo states that websites with a "controversial opinion" are "inappropriate for government access" in addition to any websites that have "Chat/Messaging", "Criminal activity", "Extreme violence (including cartoon violence) and gruesome content" and "Gaming" - all of which are now being blocked.
obsidian743Jul 7, 2010
All of you are missing the point: there were concerns that TSA was censoring _specific_ websites, while not censoring others.
Obviously there' no problem with a company blocking all access or a large portion of access to the internet, but _specifically_ targeting a website because it has as TSA-determined "controversial opinion" is censorship.
obsidian743Jul 7, 2010
To add, TSA is quoted as saying,
"...TSA does not block access to critical commentary about the organization..."
In response to the original CBS about targeting specific websites:
"The email does not specify how the TSA will determine if a website expresses a 'controversial opinion'. There is also no explanation as to why controversial opinions are being blocked..."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009642-10391695.html
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
It really isn't censoring free speech if they're doing it on their own computers. Now if they were doing it on their employee's home computers, that would be a problem. I'd rather the TSA work while they're at work rather than reading up on digg or any other site that may have "controversial opinion" on it. I don't see the big fuss about the govt ensuring that people are working on YOUR security needs.
nsanetrinityJul 7, 2010
I think the TSA is doing what many other organizations are doing. You are at work, on the company's time, on the company's bandwidth. You more than likely signed a Computer Ethics Policy when you started for the company that stated they reserve the right to block, monitor, and report on internet activity.
gerrykJul 7, 2010
The TSA are blocking certain sites from being accessed by their employees on work computers? How is this news? Many companies have restrictive internet access policies. Work computers are the property of the employer, and should be used for work.
paraswarmJul 7, 2010
Agreed. Their categories sound similar to what the military blocks from their computers. Makes sense for a professional work environment.
wesw02Jul 7, 2010
yea, but ... they're at work. I think even a couple of choice websites being available at work is a privilege.
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
<blocked by websense>
laminacJul 7, 2010
while I do agree with most of you, I think it is odd that they have "controversial opinion", so non-controversial opinion is ok? Also there is no definition as to what constitutes controversial opinion. That is the only weird thing with their policy.
As far as gaming and other stuff sure, it is a job.
emitemirpJul 7, 2010
It's a cateogry created by the vendor of TSA's web content filter. Seriously, if this category was called anything else this would not have blown up to such stupid proportions.
isenborgJul 7, 2010
Direct all complaints to the Ministry of Information.
gerrykJul 7, 2010
On form BZ/ST/486/C
jeffwmartinJul 7, 2010
FTA: "This policy is terrible," said Louis Maltby, President of the National Workrights Institute, a non-profit group that advocates for workplace rights. Maltby points out that anything on the internet could be deemed controversial and if blocked, in some cases, could cross the line of violating a worker's right to information.
So, since my company blocks porn, they are violating my right to information on nekkid chicks? Mr. Maltby should consider who owns the computers and networks and remember that one person's right doesn't trump someone else's. We have a right to a free press, but I don't have a right to use your press to print my words.
laminacJul 7, 2010
come on the smokers get their smoke breaks, why don't porn addicts get a porn break, a vice is a vice after all.
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
My question to Maltby would be how is accessing information on the internet necessary to a TSA employee's job? Employees do not have any 'right to information' with the exception of the mandatory physical postings by OSHA, DWD, and other regulatory organizations.
sjbdallasJul 7, 2010
Anyone else think that the "National Workrights Institute" is probably run out of Louis Maltby's basement?
mrmapleJul 7, 2010
They're blocking NSFW sites? At Work? How dare they? /s
stevec123Jul 7, 2010
Lots of places block "controversial content." That doesn't mean websites that are critical of your company (or gov't agency). It's just a way for them to classify a wide range of content. If I'm at work, they don't want me spending my work time posting on a KKK forum and they shouldn't have to waste time explaining to every employee each and every type of site that is blocked.
This article is just CBS trying to drum up some controversy on their own.
Closed AccountJul 7, 2010
do people ever seriously click this things? ^
themazzterJul 7, 2010
"**Updated Blog 8:20 pm, 7/6/10: TSA Reverses "Controversial Opinion" Web Policy "
king0007Jul 7, 2010
TSA=Thousands Standing Around
or
TSA=Take Scissors Away
or
?? Add your own.
mugichaJul 7, 2010
Titanium Sausage Association
mrnaturalJul 7, 2010
Big Sis keeps pushing the envelope to see what she can get away with. When she gets some push back she runs away like a little girl. That doesn't mean she isn't dangerous. We must remain vigilant...
mugichaJul 7, 2010
Agreed...in most cases. But I can't even log into Digg or hotmail at work so this doesn't seem like news to me.
mrnaturalJul 7, 2010
When you are Homeland Security it isn't too big a jump from limiting a certain group's access, to limiting everyone's access.
jjdiggleJul 7, 2010
Security theater.
I'd like to see them respond to this; http://pleaseremoveyourshoesmovie.com/content/facts
wateryouthJul 7, 2010
FTA: "uses a security technology to limit access to categories of web sites that pose an increased security risk. TSA does not block access to critical commentary about the organization..."
The fact that they even have to come out and say this is complete bulls**t, and is very indicative of the current administration.
I have no problem with a place of business blocking internet sites that take away from productivity, but using verbiage like they did is just asking for trouble.
monkeytrouble23Jul 7, 2010
TSA is a joke. Discussion of this policy at FlyerTalk:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1101851-tsa-block-employee-access-controversial-opinion.html
cjnewbsJul 7, 2010
Who gives a s**t. You go to work to work, not dick around on YouTube.
dayal911Jul 7, 2010
Who cares.. a company I interned at had a very very strict filter.
I don't see what the big deal is. A place of employment can set its own Internet usage policies....
baja01Jul 7, 2010
Thats nothing, the websense filter at my work blocks some websites under the lable of "Content Providers" Figure that one out.
pgiesselJul 7, 2010
I think the big deal is that it is a vague, poorly defined policy. Clear policies are almost never a problem (unless they clearly violate the law), but its the vague ones that are very difficult to work with and can be selectively enforced depending on the whim of those in charge. It would be like a policy that said, "Do stuff and you'll get fired" without defining what "stuff" is. Uncertainty produces paralysis. Vague policies produce uncertainty.
cuervoman914Jul 7, 2010
it's a work computer, for a government organization. non news