A new set of computer-use guidelines put forth by the Yukon Territorial Government (YTG) will enable the government to tap into employees' home computers and is an invasion of privacy.

That's the opinion of Laurie Butterworth, the newly-elected Yukon Employees Union president. He says the guidelines were done without consultation and are a major concern to union members.

'The Yukon government put forward these recommendations without consultation,' he said in an interview this morning. 'We're telling our people not to work from home,' he said.

'It's a privacy issue and it directly relates to IT (information technology) people,' Butterworth said.

He said people who log onto the government's server from home could make information on workers' home computers accessible to the government.

According to the Government of Yukon Guidelines for Using Computers, believed to have been distributed to government employees on Oct. 3, the guidelines promote four user principles and apply to the use of government resources on government and personal computers.

According to YTG, 'These guidelines apply to all authorized users who access computer resources and services form government computers.

'They also cover authorized users while they are using their own equipment (including home computers), or equipment belonging to a third party, to access the government network for work purposes.'

The four main principles are:

ï That users have a responsiblity to protect IT investments and government information.

ï That users are committed to upholding all legal and policy obligations.

ï That users are accountable to the public.

ï That users may occassionally use electronic networks for acceptable personal or educational activities.

The guidelines state that in monitoring employees' computer habits, 'authorized personnel will investigate and monitor an individual's activities only if it is suspected that one or more of the four principles are not being followed.'

According to the guidelines, government workers must not:

ï Download unauthorized software to a computer network or server.

ï Download or circulate files on a computer or server without scanning for viruses.

ï Open attachments in personal web-based emails.

ï Disclose sensitive, confidential, business trade secrets, or personal information without authorization in e-mail correspondance.

ï Improperly use large distribution lists.

ï Access on-line games or personal interest chat sites.

ï View, download or send inappropriate, offensive, obscene, sexist or sexual content.

ï Use government computing resources to engage in political activites.

ï Use computers or electronic networks to acquire, store or distribute pornography.

The guidelines also state that employees are permitted to use government servers and computers for limited activities involving personal banking, studies for personal development and 'occasionaly' visiting on-line news websites.

According to Marie-Louise Boylen, a spokeswoman for the Department of Highways and Public Works, the new guidelines were created after consultation. They are part of a larger government initiative to ensure that government resources are used properly and effectively.

'It's about how we use our resources and it's part of the bigger picture,' she said.

The government is also advising employees on how to deal with spam, proper telephone and e-mail ettiquite, she added.

'The guidelines are for whenever you're using government resources,' she said.