Monitoring Internet Usage - Essay Example

However, in most states, employers do not have an obligation by law to disclose whether they monitor the employee's internet usage (Lawinfo).

It may be legal for an employee to make negative comments about their employer over the internet. However, the employer might decide to discipline the employee if they directly post negative comments about them. Such discipline could amount to the termination of employment and other opportunities in the working environment (Online Privacy: Using the Internet Safely). If the employee defies the ethical concern on confidentiality and discloses confidential information about the employer over the internet, then the employer has a right to terminate their employment.

Employers ask for private information about the social web pages of their employees. This is an ethical concern that affects businesses because it amounts to the infringement of the employee’s privacy rights. Such practices might negatively affect society, as employers would practice discriminatory recruitment practices. The development of peer-to-peer sharing of files has led to a concern in business ethics (Business & Entrepreneurship). It has led to the illegal transfer of copyrighted content, for instance, the free sharing of software among users. The owners of such software could sue the business as they have defied the terms and conditions stipulated in the usage agreement.