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BBC News staff voice concern over corporation tracking mobile devices BBC News staff voice concern over corporation tracking mobile devices
(about 5 hours later)
Concerns have been raised by BBC News staff after they were told the corporation can track their work mobile devices, despite the fact that an internal survey showed that most of them do not trust the BBC not to misuse the information. Concerns have been raised by BBC News staff after they were told the corporation can track their work mobile devices despite the fact that an internal survey showed that most of them do not trust the BBC not to misuse the information.
BBC News is introducing new technology that has a feature that allows corporation-owned laptops and mobiles to be tracked.BBC News is introducing new technology that has a feature that allows corporation-owned laptops and mobiles to be tracked.
The rest of the BBC is due to follow suit and the corporation says it is useful to know where the devices are in the event of them being lost, stolen or in extreme cases, if a journalist is kidnapped or a presenter is travelling in a dangerous location. The rest of the BBC is due to follow suit, and the corporation says it is useful to know where the devices are in the event of them being lost, stolen or, in extreme cases, if a journalist is kidnapped or a presenter is travelling in a dangerous location.
However, the majority of BBC News staff who were asked for their views on the idea in a survey said they did not want to be tracked.However, the majority of BBC News staff who were asked for their views on the idea in a survey said they did not want to be tracked.
While 51% said they did not want to be tracked at all, 27% said they did not mind if the BBC could monitor the location of their work devices and 21% said they would prefer to use external systems such as Find My iPhone. While 51% said they did not want to be tracked at all, 27% said they did not mind if the BBC could monitor the location of their work devices, and 21% said they would prefer to use external systems such as Find My iPhone.
Perhaps of more concern to the BBC is the finding that when asked if they trusted the BBC not to misuse the tracking data, 81% said no and only 5% said yes. Perhaps of more concern to the BBC is the finding that, when asked if they trusted the BBC not to misuse the tracking data, 81% said no and only 5% said yes.
The survey was carried out to test staff’s reaction to the plan by the BBC’s technology department to introduce a customised version of an app management system, which includes the ability to track devices. However, it subsequently emerged that a pilot had already been carried out and the new system was up and running.The survey was carried out to test staff’s reaction to the plan by the BBC’s technology department to introduce a customised version of an app management system, which includes the ability to track devices. However, it subsequently emerged that a pilot had already been carried out and the new system was up and running.
According to the BBC if it turns on tracking, staff can turn it off but were not told that nor have they yet been instructed how to do so. According to the BBC, if it turns on tracking, staff can turn it off but were not told that, nor have they been instructed how to do so.
A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC uses a variety of commercially available systems to operate and manage its portable communication devices. Some of these systems have additional features that can allow location information to be determined where the device supports it. These features are not turned on by default, and the BBC only chooses to turn them on in specific circumstances, and with the co-operation of the users involved.”A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC uses a variety of commercially available systems to operate and manage its portable communication devices. Some of these systems have additional features that can allow location information to be determined where the device supports it. These features are not turned on by default, and the BBC only chooses to turn them on in specific circumstances, and with the co-operation of the users involved.”
Despite that some are still uneasy that they may be forbidden to turn off the tracking in future and expressed their concern at the way the issue was handled, particularly coming so soon after it was revealed that the BBC’s Investigations unit has been monitoring some staff’s email accounts due to concerns about confidentiality. Despite that, some are still uneasy that they may be forbidden to turn off the tracking in future and expressed their concern at the way the issue was handled, particularly coming so soon after it was revealed that the BBC’s Investigations unit has been monitoring some staff’s email accounts due to concerns about confidentiality.
Information from a freedom of information request made by the Daily Telegraph showed that in 2012 it monitored four accounts, the following year 10 and last year 27. Information from a freedom of information request made by the Daily Telegraph showed that in 2012 it monitored four accounts, the following year, 10 and last year, 27.
In total last year there were 56 incidents of investigators hacking into staff emails; some were done due to criminal or disciplinary investigations.In total last year there were 56 incidents of investigators hacking into staff emails; some were done due to criminal or disciplinary investigations.
A BBC spokesman said: “Monitoring of email accounts is invariably undertaken in relation to criminal or disciplinary investigations and staff are fully aware that access and monitoring can occur in certain circumstances.”A BBC spokesman said: “Monitoring of email accounts is invariably undertaken in relation to criminal or disciplinary investigations and staff are fully aware that access and monitoring can occur in certain circumstances.”