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Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:36 pm
by Mickyj
I wont mention where I am employed or what I do for a job (big brother may burst through my front door at any second ;) )but can an employer and the police department do this .
Apparently someone did something that is highly illegal at work.the Police are and have been carrying out an investigation .
We were all called into a meeting and told what happened .and we were informed that hidden cameras are in place and legally they had to tell us .Then the big bombshell working with police they are taping our home phones and listening to our phone calls !! Can they legally do this ?
Most of us have had it done and it has stopped once we have been cleared .no idea if I'm being bugged or not .

And then they continued on about the cameras saying its lucky we all work like robots .Because when a worker does something different they are alerted to our actions straight away .
The meeting ended with do anything illegal or plan to do anything and we will take action against you!!

I got home and told the wife she was outraged at first that someone was listening to her phone calls .I very rarely use the phone so they wont hear me on it .
When she calmed down she said she doesnt do anything illegal on the phone so she's ok .she did say if they had told her she tell them were to go .Lucky me I'm the bread winning robot .

So can they do this or is it like my wife thinks just a big bluff

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:43 pm
by Dog_ger
Mickyj wrote:Apparently someone did something that is highly illegal at work.


Describe Highly Illegal Mickyj :shock:

Terrorism....

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:43 pm
by dedja
Unless you work for ASIO I highly doubt that you would have you phone bugged ... did the company tell you this or the police?

Sounds like a bluff to me.

I would have thought bugging phones would require the same, if not more more, substantial cause as required by a search warrant.

If in doubt, consult an appropriate union or seek legal advice.

Very unethical behavior by the company on the face of it.

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:46 pm
by Mickyj
dedja wrote:Unless you work for ASIO I highly doubt that you would have you phone bugged ... did the company tell you this or the police?

Sounds like a bluff to me.

I would have thought bugging phones would require the same, if not more more, substantial cause as required by a search warrant.

If in doubt, consult an appropriate union or seek legal advice.

Very unethical behavior by the company on the face of it.


Company said it .And informed us they are working with a police task force

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:47 pm
by Mickyj
Dog_ger wrote:
Mickyj wrote:Apparently someone did something that is highly illegal at work.


Describe Highly Illegal Mickyj :shock:

Terrorism....


almost as bad as Terrorism ;)

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:50 pm
by JAS
A Yahoo search for 'phone tapping australia' throws this up...it's dated 2006 but might be relevent...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/ ... 71896.html

Specifically this part...I'm sure others will know if this law went through, applies to SA etc...

The proposed laws allow police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) agents to tap phone calls and trace e-mails and text messages of people believed to be in contact with suspected criminals.

Police will be able to have a tap in place for up to 45 days and ASIO will have three months.

Mr Ruddock says the powers will be subject to strict controls, including judicial oversight.

Police will have to prove they have exhausted all other avenues of investigation and the crime they are investigating will have to carry at least a seven-year jail sentence.


Regards
JAS

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:52 pm
by dedja
Mickyj wrote:Company said it .And informed us they are working with a police task force


... then I'd say that they're bullshitting you mate, but hard to say without knowing the type of company involved.

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:08 pm
by Mickyj
JAS wrote:A Yahoo search for 'phone tapping australia' throws this up...it's dated 2006 but might be relevent...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/ ... 71896.html

Specifically this part...I'm sure others will know if this law went through, applies to SA etc...

The proposed laws allow police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) agents to tap phone calls and trace e-mails and text messages of people believed to be in contact with suspected criminals.

Police will be able to have a tap in place for up to 45 days and ASIO will have three months.

Mr Ruddock says the powers will be subject to strict controls, including judicial oversight.

Police will have to prove they have exhausted all other avenues of investigation and the crime they are investigating will have to carry at least a seven-year jail sentence.


Regards
JAS


thanks Jas it may be a crime that gets 7 yrs jail not being a crim I'm in the dark .

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:12 pm
by Mickyj
dedja wrote:
Mickyj wrote:Company said it .And informed us they are working with a police task force


... then I'd say that they're bullshitting you mate, but hard to say without knowing the type of company involved.



The last time something along these lines happened (and its only happened twice in my 15 yrs) we were informed that leaving the building and going to your car in a paid break was not on.This was again mentioned we are allowed out at lunch but not in our 10 min break .

And the first time was not the same (I dont think it was the same ) we watched the cops goose step the culprit out the building .We were told not to talk about it .

and as good robots do it was talked about in hush tones

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:49 pm
by Pseudo
There is one sure way to determine whether or not they are bluffing you.

When you get the chance, sneak into the staff room and take a leak in the coffee pot.

If you get sacked and subsequently prosecuted, it's a fair bet that they really do have some hidden cameras about the place...

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:05 pm
by Mickyj
Pseudo wrote:There is one sure way to determine whether or not they are bluffing you.

When you get the chance, sneak into the staff room and take a leak in the coffee pot.

If you get sacked and subsequently prosecuted, it's a fair bet that they really do have some hidden cameras about the place...


I'm more worried about home phone calls, next they'll be checking my web surfing at home .Because they've had cameras for a couple of years, now they have hidden ones as well.Mind u if they had mic's with the cameras there's a few people worried about that.

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:29 am
by Q.
Sedition laws were introduced under the guise of protection against terrorism but have been worded so generally so as to allow them to be applied with little restriction for ulterior purposes. Meaning less restriction on obtaining warrants for surveillance, while at the same time denying transparency.

Also includes provisions for detainment without charge for up to 14 days and there are no restrictions on length of interrogation sessions within that time. And one more thing, the laws make it illegal to discuss any of it with ANYONE, meaning it would be illegal and prosecutable if you chose to tell, for example, your wife why you've really been missing the past few days.

I know of specific cases where these 'anti-terrorism' laws have been used in situations unrelated to terrorism.

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:30 am
by Q.
Whether these laws are being applied here is another thing, could just be an outrageous bluff, but hard to say without knowing specific details.

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:49 am
by spell_check
Micky, is this correct? That one individual did a bad, bad thing; therefore everyone at work is getting phone tapped as a result of one worker?

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:57 am
by Barto
"we know who did it, if you own up to it, we can help you.. otherwise.."

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:02 am
by mick
Barto wrote:"we know who did it, if you own up to it, we can help you.. otherwise.."


That phrase brings back memories of my school days :lol: Needless to say it never worked!

Are hidden cameras legal in the workplace? I have no problem with cameras on open display, but this sounds like the Stasi or Gestapo to me.

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:41 am
by Dirko
In regards to the camera's they must not be able to record sound. The workplace must have sign-age up stating that cameras are in use. The footage of the camera's can only be used to prove wrong doings or to assist in an investigation NOT to monitor staff movements or otherwise.

You can access footage from your CCTV system for evidence if you think you have been accused of wrong doings. The company must allow footage to be seen by your chosen Rep. If they refuse then the CCTV is not evidence.

As for your phone's being tapped. Unless your company has a truckload of funds out the back to pay off legal challenges and further claims of harassment, I'd suggest it's a load of crap.

I worked in the Aviation industry, and the increased security measures they bought it after 911, made no mention of phone tapping.

I'd personally contact your Union body ASAP, and get them onto this....

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:54 pm
by Mickyj
spell_check wrote:Micky, is this correct? That one individual did a bad, bad thing; therefore everyone at work is getting phone tapped as a result of one worker?


Yep it is correct .
Funny when I started they didn't police check people hell they didnt even give me a pyhsical .The past decade they have been doesn't seem to be working IMHO.
mind u how stupid was this person to do it and lose their regular income .

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:55 pm
by Mickyj
SJABC wrote:.

I'd personally contact your Union body ASAP, and get them onto this....


Yep have been thinking about that .

Re: Is this legal

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:57 pm
by Mickyj
Barto wrote:"we know who did it, if you own up to it, we can help you.. otherwise.."


Funny enough If I had done it I knew people when I grew up that could have done what the police are saying is being done with the product.

And no I would never do that type of shit .