Most of these companies have established a surveillance system to monitor their employees' daily electronic communication activities. Some employees might use the technology that the employer provided to start or operate their own business. Employers sometimes might find that they could be held liable for email or Internet related activities of their employees. Defamatory, political, or religious statements sent outside the company by employees may be attributed to the employer. Employers also have the obligation to provide a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
Inappropriate material circulated internally can create a problem.
Employers have the concern on the potential liability for sexually explicit messages sent to other employees. Employers want to be sure that their employees are doing a good job and work properly using the electronic mail system provided by the company. Most of the companies have set up some level of surveillance system to monitoring their employees' e-mail activities. One very good example is from one of my own experiences. Long time ago, I worked as a Help Desk in an Information System Department for a major local financial management firm.