Birmingham City Council bans atheist websites

[curiosityandthecat]

Looks like today is anything but a slow news day.

Council ban on atheist websites

A city council has blocked its staff from looking at websites about atheism.

Rest after the... [spoiler:3002vvsk]BBC NEWS
Council ban on atheist websites

A city council has blocked its staff from looking at websites about atheism.

Lawyers at the National Secular Society said the move by Birmingham City Council was "discriminatory" and they would consider legal action.

The rules also ban sites that promote witchcraft, the paranormal, sexual deviancy and criminal activity.

The city council declined to comment on the possible legal action, but said the new system helped make it easier for managers to monitor staff web access.

'Very strong case'

The authority's Bluecoat Software computer system allows staff to look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions but blocks sites to do with "witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism".

Under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, it is unlawful to discriminate against workers because of their religion or belief, which includes atheism.

National Secular Society president Terry Sanderson said the city council's rules also discriminated against people who practise witchcraft, which is also classed as a legitimate belief.

   We feel very strongly that people who don't believe should not be denied the access that people who do believe have got
Terry Sanderson, National Secular Society

He said the society would initially contact the council and ask for the policy to be changed, and otherwise pursue legal action.

He said he believed he would have a "very strong case".

Mr Sanderson said: "It is discriminatory not only against atheists but they also are banning access to sites to do with witchcraft.

"Witchcraft these days is called Wicca, which is an actual legitimate and recognised religion.

"We feel very strongly that people who don't believe should not be denied the access that people who do believe have got."

He added that some opinion polls said that up to 25% of the UK population now considered themselves atheist.

A city council statement said the authority had a "long-standing internet usage policy for staff".

It added: "We are currently implementing new internet monitoring software to make the control of internet access easier to manage.

"The aim of this is to provide greater control for individual line managers to monitor internet usage, and for departments, such as trading standards and child protection, to gain access, if needed, to certain sites for business reasons."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7530519.stm

Published: 2008/07/29 09:31:16 GMT

© BBC MMVIII[/spoiler:3002vvsk]

I mean.. Jesus!   I'd be piiiiiiiissed.

[Tom62]

Interesting, that is exactly what happens in my company. The company's Internet rules says clearly that employees are allowed to visit religious sites. All atheist sites are however blocked.

[MommaSquid]

Interesting, that is exactly what happens in my company. The company's Internet rules says clearly that employees are allowed to visit religious sites. All atheist sites are however blocked.

Time to raise heck, Tom!  Get on the lawsuit bandwagon while the getting is good.  (Or you could just surf the internet at home like normal people do.)

[Tom62]

Time to raise heck, Tom!  Get on the lawsuit bandwagon while the getting is good.  (Or you could just surf the internet at home like normal people do.)

I believe that religion and work should be separated. If atheist sites are banned then they should also have banned the religious sites. They probably got an American web filter software in place. I don't make a fuss about it because basically I don''t give a shit what people want to see on the Internet during company time, as long as they get their work done. Most of my time spend on the Internet is work related. I do of course check out the latest news, weather forecasts and the occasional Dilbert, but that is just limited to a few minutes per day (and is company approved). All other, more personal stuff I do from home.

[afreethinker30]

I can understand no porn or games things that take away from getting work done.But putting a ban on atheist sites is taking away from free speech.If they ban atheist they should ban religious crap.

[Asmodean]

I'm starting a new company just to block every single religious site on the internet in protest.  

[afreethinker30]

I'm starting a new company just to block every single religious site on the internet in protest.  :banna:

[ONZero]

Religion in all manifestations represents the state as a control mechanism.  The atheist declares him/herself free from that doctrine.  Businesses control employee conduct, what they where and any resources they use on the job.  The interesting development is that some employers wish to delve into private matters such as smoking, drug use, genetic makeup and other matters.  These were once unquestioningly private.  The average worker is enjoying less and less freedom and compensation and time off.  Where have you gone Samuel Gompers?

[myleviathan]

The interesting development is that some employers wish to delve into private matters such as smoking, drug use, genetic makeup and other matters. These were once unquestioningly private.

Not to mention an employer credit-report screening - which absolutely enrages me.

[Tom62]

The interesting development is that some employers wish to delve into private matters such as smoking, drug use, genetic makeup and other matters. These were once unquestioningly private.

Not to mention an employer credit-report screening - which absolutely enrages me.

I just wonder how many employers would like to find out that we are atheists.

[curiosityandthecat]

The interesting development is that some employers wish to delve into private matters such as smoking, drug use, genetic makeup and other matters. These were once unquestioningly private.

Not to mention an employer credit-report screening - which absolutely enrages me.

I just wonder how many employers would like to find out that we are atheists.

That's the great thing about working for a liberal state university! I wear the atheist label like a badge here!