United States corporate Internet censorship

This video from the USA is called How the Internet and Social Media can Stop Government Censorship and Oppression.

By Dave Jamieson in the USA:

Social Media Policies At GM, Target, DISH Network Deemed Unlawful By Labor Official

Posted: 05/31/2012 6:31 pm

WASHINGTON — In an effort to control employees’ activities on Facebook and Twitter, some U.S. companies have instituted social media policies that run afoul of labor law and infringe on workers’ rights, according to a memo issued Wednesday by the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board.

General Motors, one of the largest automakers in the world, has gone so far as to forbid employees from posting anything potentially “misleading” about the company online and even told employees to be careful about “friending” their co-workers on Facebook, the memo indicates.

Other companies, including DISH Network and Target, have also maintained corporate policies that at least partially violated provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, according to the memo. That federal law covers collective bargaining and employees’ “protected activities” in the workplace.

Written by Lafe Solomon, acting general counsel for the NLRB, the memo is meant to help employers navigate the ever-changing territory of social media and develop workplace policies that keep within the bounds of the law. Solomon essentially acts as the lead prosecutor for the labor board, and the memo lays out his conclusions on a number of issues that have recently come before the agency.

“This [memo] is actually in response to requests from employer groups who said, ‘Hey, we need some guidance. What’s a good social media policy?'” explained NLRB spokeswoman Nancy Cleeland. “Social media just by its nature is collective activity, and that goes to the heart of our law. It makes sense that we would pick this up.”

At this point, Solomon’s reading of the law constitutes little more than suggestions to employers on how to avoid potential legal problems. And a GM spokesperson said that despite the NLRB’s recommendations, the company hasn’t changed its policy, maintaining that it “complies with applicable laws.” But the memo may signal some of the legal wrangling that lies ahead, particularly if more workers choose to challenge their employers’ social media policies on the grounds of free speech or labor rights.