Cyber Law and Employment

The book examines the transformative effect of the internet and social media on the employment relationship, in Ireland, and how this presents new challenges for lawmakers and the courts alike.

It spans the pre-employment stage of recruitment, the period of the employment contract itself, and the post-employment phase dealing with such issues as defamation, privacy and surveillance, cyber bullying and harassment, damage to business reputation, theft of confidential business information and the remedies available when breaches of rights occur.

• Examines how and to what extent existing laws and legal principles may be utilised to remedy wrongs done, and to what extent we require new cyberlaws to meet this challenging and rapidly changing online environment.
• Considers how human beings interact in an online environment, and the challenges posed for both employers and employees in that context to include a consideration of recruitment and cyber discrimination, acceptable practices/ norms in the workplace on issues such as employee monitoring and surveillance, data protection and privacy issues and discovery.
• Examines discipline and dismissal of employees for internet abuse, the law on ownership and theft of confidential information by employees, and remedies, in particular injunctive relief.
• Examine how existing laws may be adapted to remedy online wrongs, and to what extent there are lacunae which require new cyberlaws in order to ensure that basic human rights such as privacy, reputation and autonomy are protected

• Provides in depth analysis of applicable legal principles to challenges raised by internet and social media use.
• Applies developing worldwide concepts and cyberlaw principles to the workplace relationships and contract of employment.
• Provides essential guidance for practitioners to advise on new area of law
• Assists policy and law makers in their consideration of the nuanced challenges presented by internet and social use and abuse.
• Contains up to date case law in common law jurisdictions worldwide, EU, European member states and international courts in this nascent area of law.