The STFC Information Systems Privacy & Security Policy is the primary source of the STFC policy on acceptable use of its IT and communications systems. This document is intended as a guide to the interpretation of the policy and provides a list of uses which are specifically excluded and the penalties which will be applied to transgressors. The list is not necessarily complete.
Transmitting any material such that this infringes the copyright of the owner.
Purchasing goods or services or entering into any contract on the Internet on behalf of the STFC without the necessary authority.
Business advertisements or trade sales.
Trading, i.e. sale of any goods purchased with the sole intention of making a profit.
Using an unauthorised Instant Messaging service.
Sending or forwarding chain emails.
Making your personal user id and password available for other people to use on your behalf.
Accessing another user’s data without appropriate authorisation.
Deliberately creating or storing information which infringes the STFC data protection registration.
Using the STFC-provided phones to make personal/non-business International calls (except where calls are booked via the Site Operator and paid for by the user).
Using the STFC-provided phones to make personal/non-business related calls to premium rate numbers.
Using another person’s identity so as to appear to be someone else on the network.
Attempting to gain unauthorised access to another user’s e-mail.
Deliberately accessing, viewing, receiving, downloading, sending or storing material:
with pornographic, offensive, obscene or indecent content;
related to criminal skills or terrorist activities;
that promote or encourage racism or intolerance;
that is illegal in the UK;
that is defamatory, offensive or abusive;
that will bring the STFC, its staff or Council members into disrepute;
that is known to be infected with a virus.
Any activity that falls within this definition will render an employee liable to disciplinary action. Serious instances of “unacceptable” use (e.g. forwarding a large number of chain emails) may be regarded as gross misconduct and may lead to summary dismissal. For non-employees the appropriate action will be discussed with the user’s management and may lead to a bar on site access.
Forbidden use:
Any 'forbidden' activity will render an employee liable to disciplinary action which, where the activity is deemed to amount to gross misconduct, will normally lead to summary dismissal. Other categories of user will be barred from site. Any suspected illegal action will be reported to the police.
NOTES
Unsolicited receipt of discriminatory, abusive, pornographic, obscene, illegal, offensive or defamatory e-mail (i.e. SPAM) will not be treated as a disciplinary offence. Anyone who receives such material should, where possible, file this in the #SPAM public folder in Exchange.
Anyone accidentally accessing a pornographic or other inappropriate web page should report the matter to their line manager. No disciplinary action will be taken in such cases.