To anyone who accessed this page via Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site, Monday through Friday during regular business hours, I have good news. You can’t be federally prosecuted!
You have precedence. A federal court deemed it not a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). Yay!!!
This new precedent overturned a previous precedent (making you question the value of a precedent), so just be glad you’re not being cuffed for that 9:55 status update. We’re you ” :-/ bored…”? We’re you? Are you ” :-/ bored…” now?!?!?
Luckily, in this case a recognition of human nature prevailed. The court (San Francisco’s Ninth Circuit) acknowledged that if it wasn’t social media it would probably be something else. Basically they called all of us giant procrastinators. I would be offended, but I’ve checked my e-mail three times while writing this blog post.
So enjoy you’re freedom to browse social media on your employer’s dime. Surf to your heart’s content without fear of federal action. I should warn you though, you can probably still be fired… Freedom!!!
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“Court: Facebooking at Work is not a Federal Crime–Even When Forbidden: MSNBC
…bi-daily smile…
