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Everything you do, and everything that happens -- from the location of a water cooler down to serious violations of the law -- is confidential upon pain of termination and the risk of ruinous litigation. You are forbidden to speak to the government, attorneys or the press about wrongdoings at the Company. You are forbidden to speak to your spouse, or your friends, about whether you think your boss could do a better job.
These are only a few of the eye-catching elements in Google's confidentiality policies, according to a lawsuit brought forward by one of the 65,000 "Googlers". The plaintiff has registered his complaint under a "John Doe" identity, as Brian Katz, Google's Director of Global Investigations, Intelligence & Protective Services falsely informed the rest of the Googlers that plaintiff had been terminated for leaking certain information to the press. This was not the case, and Katz knew this, according to the plaintiff: he fears going public will ruin his reputation in the tech industry.
Earlier this year, a Nest employee was fired because he posted comments about Nest's CEO Tony Fadell on Facebook. The reason given for termination was that these posts breached Google's Data Classification guidelines.
(Score: 2) by dry on Sunday December 25 2016, @04:25AM
In my country, companies still have to respect basic human rights as rights are considered fundamental. For example companies aren't allowed to invade your privacy with drug testing unless there is a very good reason for it.
It's a fine line and companies can get away with a lot more then government but at least in theory, they're not allowed to control your life outside of work.
Freedom is complex as freedoms are always limited due to the classic not being free to put your fist in the space my face occupies.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 25 2016, @11:11PM
Freedom is complex
Bah, humbug...
Your freedom ends where my freedom begins if we were to battle with equal weapons. What's complex about that?