Have you heard the saying, “Drink more coffee, do stupid things faster with more energy?” Along those lines, I think the theme of this week’s events is “Use technology, do stupid things faster with greater ease.”
Example #1: the DNR employee who accessed more than 5,000 driving records without authorization. This could prove to be a costly mistake, because one of the data-breach victims has filed a potential class action lawsuit against the (now ex) employee, the DNR, the Department of Public Safety, and commissioners of those agencies.
Example #2: the HMV employee who hijacked the company’s Twitter account to protest the large layoffs announced this morning. Local media were able to capture the angry tweets before the company had a chance to regain control of the account and delete the unwanted activity. The fallout from these actions? HMV will have to deal with the embarrassment and negative publicity, and the employee might have trouble finding another job if his or her identity is ever discovered.
Let this serve as a lesson for us all: the faster and easier technology makes communication, the more important it is to take a step back and think before hitting that send button.
Technology and the Workplace
MN Man Sues DNR Over Data Breach (MPR)
Sure Way to Get Fired: Post “I Wish I Could Get Fired Some Days” On Facebook (Mashable) (KTVK)
WA Bill Halts Employers Access to Social Media Content (Law 360)
Too Hot For Twitter? Teacher’s Naughty Tweets Land Her in Hot Water (Huffington Post) (NBC)
HMV Employees Commandeer Corporate Twitter Account in Response to Layoffs (Business Week)
Technology and the Law
Do Privacy Rights End at the Brothel Door? Judge Dismisses Taping Charges in Zumba Case (ABA Journal) (Portland Press Herald)
Woman Sues Match.com After Date Stabs Her (Mashable)
Facebook Sends Most of America an Offer to Settle a Class Action Lawsuit for $10 (Above the Law) (CNN)
Double Trouble: iPhone Thief Busted When His Stolen iPhone is Stolen Again (NBC)
Self-Driving Cars Could Ease Insurance Burden (WSJ)
There’s an App for That
Using a Smartphone to Keep Track of the Pennies (NY Times)
Can Smartphone Apps Break Bad Habits? (Mashable)
“Boyfriend Trainer” App Encourages Users to “Whack” Boyfriends into Shape (FOX)
11 Bizarre Facebook Apps You Won’t Believe (Mashable)