CIA contractor fired over blog post | News.blog | CNET News.com

A software contractor for the CIA was fired this week after she posted her views on the Geneva Conventions and torture at a blog site only accessible to those with a top-secret clearance.

Christine Axsmith had been employed by BAE Systems, a prominent defense contractor, to test software performance at the spy agency, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Here’s a story about “La Petite Anglaise” who got the sack even though she did not reveal her name or her employers.

Telegraph | News | Wrote blog and got the sack. V bad. Will sue

That got me thinking. I wonder how many of us actually have a blogging policy?

Check out this excellent blogging policy here.

Corporate Engagement: Australian law firm urges clients to adopt employee blogging policies

Here is an excerpt to get you started.

“The suggested policies include:

• outline who is entitled to blog: whether all employees may blog
  or only specified personnel (for example, those in certain positions or
  who have attended appropriate training sessions);
• Ideally, the policy should require the employee to use a disclaimer on the blog to this effect;
• inform employees of the relevant authorisation processes for the publishing of blogs (particularly marketing blogs);
• notify employees of any monitoring of the blogging of employees
  that the company will carry out in accordance with the Workplace
  Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW);
• provide that the company’s confidential information must not be disclosed;
• provide that employees must not make use of the company’s intellectual property without obtaining authorization;
• require employees to ensure the accuracy of any information published;
• make employees aware of the law of defamation and prohibit
  employees from making defamatory statements and/or statements that are
  contrary to the strategic and commercial interests of the enterprise;
• prohibit employees from making discriminatory comments; and
• prohibit employees from using blogs to engage in illegal conduct.”