State law gives IT responsibility to report crime

September 23, 2008 by Sam Narisi

Posted in: Employee computer use, IT staffing, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views

A new state law requires some IT workers to report criminal activity they discover on employers’ computers.

The law, passed in Illinois at the end of August, requires tech workers to inform law enforcement about any child pornography they discover while “installing, repairing, or otherwise servicing an item of electronic and information technology equipment.”

Effective immediately, the rule applies to anyone whose job is to install, repair or maintain IT equipment. If the law’s broken, the employee and his or her employer could be subject to a fine up to $1,000.

Five other states have similar laws (Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and South Dakota), and another bill is being considered in Michigan.

Tags: child porn, Illinois, IT workers, Michigan, South Carolina

See what readers are saying...

Mike R: In the first instance, the company took measures to check on its employees (web use) and lost a court case for not repor...

john king: Good Job US COC. These fn policies and laws are driving our economy into the ground. Go be racist somewhere else not on ...

Jim Rittgers: I see the court decisions as being the opposite of what Mike R. seems to state. The message sent by the Doe v. XYC Corp...

Amy K.: Mike R, I disagree. Companies have no obligation to be police officers for their employees. Certainly knowing about so...

Mitch: I disagree. Going to court to fight off these lawsuits is more costly than reporting the behavior when it's discovered....

Mike R: It seems that this confirms that the policy of "hear no evil, see no evil" is beneficial to companies and rewarded by ou...