E-mail Privacy

[Perry L. Statham]

In article <15110 at ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> conca at handel.cs.colostate.edu (michael vincen conca) writes:
>Now for the tough questions.
>	Is this legal?  Is this ethical?  If this person still worked
>here, I would immediately refuse.  But since they don't, do they still
>have any rights to their E-mail?  Right now, I am leaning towards refusing
>because I think a person's E-mail is theirs, regardless of their status
>with the organization.  Anyone have any other opinions on this?

You're right. It is a tough question.

It seems to come down to two parts though - does whoever owns the hardware
have a right to read another another persons mail reqardless if that person
still has access to the mail.

Let me phrase my opinion by phrasing the question another way.  Suppose
you go accross the hall, tell your boss Joe that you want to write a letter
to your sweetheart during your lunch hour, and you need to borrow a piece 
of paper, a stamp, an envelope and a pen from Joe Boss.  With these items 
you go back to your office and write the letter. Now, Joe Boss gets
mad at you for some reason or another and fires you before you have a chance
to mail the letter (you accidently leave it on your desk).  DOES JOE BOSS
HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPEN AND READ THE MAIL EVEN THOUGH IT HE LITTERALLY OWNS
EVERYTHING IT WAS WRITEN ON-BY-IN. Absolutly not. The mail should be 
returned to you.  If you would like to let Joe read it then (or even have
a copy of it), then it is YOUR DECISION - NOT YOUR EX-BOSS'S.

Perry Lee Statham	Can
statham at cactus.org		You
(512) 335-3881 <h>			Grok
(512) 467-1396 <w>				It?