HR snooping: Facing up to Facebook

In a recent and high profile example of some of the issues associated with social networking sites, the wife of the recently appointed chief of MI6, Sir John Sawers, disclosed details of their personal life and address on her Facebook page, compromising their personal and, potentially, national safety. There have also been recent examples of footballers and cricketers using Twitter to air their views about their employers. The blurring of the lines between private and public space which is part of the social networking phenomenon is key to the problem. These very public spaces have the capacity to threaten existing jobs, future careers, personal safety and corporate reputations as well as providing opportunities to contravene copyright and other laws. Organisations and individuals all have a role to play in managing the impact of social networking.