Internet Rules, Laws and RegulationsMany of us use the Internet daily and there is an expectation that our searches and information be private. The reasons we have expectations of privacy are due to rules, laws and regulations established in the past by cases involving the use of the Internet. The case of Smyth v. Pillsbury Co., 914 F.Supp 97 is a great example of workplace Internet use and privacy expectations. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 criminalizes sending or posting offensive messages on the Internet by those under 18 years of age. The Economic Espionage Act criminalizes the theft of confidential business information. Internet Rules, Laws and Regulations Smyth v. Pillsbury Co., 914 F.Supp 97 (ED Pa. 1996) is an excellent example of the use of the Internet and the expectations of privacy we assume at work. When an employee uses an email at work that is a business email account, the employer expects that email address to be used for business purposes only and the employee expects that that their emails are private and confidential. In the case of Smyth v. Pillsbury Co., 914 F.Supp 97 (ED Pa. 1996), Michael Smyth was fired for sending an electronic message threatening harm to his co-workers. “He was terminated for inappropriate and unprofessional comments on the defendant's email system. The courts ruled that Pillsbury had the right to prevent unprofessional and illegal activity that outweighed any interest in its employee's privacy in email comments. (Rustad, 2009, p. 230) In my work, I have often heard administrators say that email is for company use only, but this is not an enforced rule. It always surprises me when coworkers send silly messages or add their work email address for their personal use, like making purchases or receiving coupons. I believe that with the use of smart phones there is no need to use work emails and there would be less time wasted at work if emails were monitored more. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 criminalizes sending or posting offensive messages on the Internet under the Communications Decency Act. aged eighteen. Under agency law, an employer is liable for the torts of its employees and agents if the tort is committed in the course of their duties. This concept, known as "answer to boss" or "let the master answer", imposes responsibility even if the employer is above reproach..