Law firm urges online safety

A Tauranga law firm is urging people to stay safe online this summer, and avoid late-night Facebook rants and drunken selfies.

The advice comes from Lyon O'Neale Arnold associate Nick Earl, who suggests while summer might be a time to be footloose and fancy free, internet users should show some restraint when it comes to their cyber lives.


Lyon O'Neale Arnold Associate Nick Earl is encouraging safe use of Facebook this summer.

With the law around privacy on the web still a grey area, privacy issues are currently covered by several different laws, none of which are specifically designed for the realm of cyberspace.

And somewhat tellingly, the number of employment issues arising from incidents involving social networking sites has increased over recent years.

'Technology is advancing so fast that lawmakers are struggling to keep up with it,” says Nick.

'The latest cases show that employers can take social media network posts that occur outside work into account in deciding whether to dismiss an employee for serious misconduct.”

Nick insists a degree of personal responsibility is required, as is an awareness of the limitless audience of Facebook.

'Keep your private information and private photos just that – private,” he adds.

'If you don't want an incriminating photo or comment coming back to haunt you, my advice is simple – don't take the photo in the first place (or let anyone else take such a photo) and don't put anything in writing that could land you in hot water.”

Among a number of safety tips, Nick suggests users should review their Facebook security, privacy and timeline settings, limit who can see future posts, control who can post on your timeline and limit who can look you up.


Lyon O'Neale Arnold associate Nick Earl. Photo: Supplied.

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