Workplace computers contain so much personal information nowadays that employees have a legitimate expectation of privacy in using them, the Supreme Court of Canada said in a major ruling Friday. ...

It said that in some cases, the seriousness of an offence and workplace computer policies are sufficient to override the right to privacy. ...

While the judgment focused on principles rather than strict rules for workplace computer privacy, its words are bound to feature prominently in future cases ... [which] are likely to focus on the extent to which employers can scrutinize their employees’ computer activity; whether a workplace policy could effectively eliminate an expectation of privacy altogether; and the constitutionality of attempts to obtain Internet search information from companies such as Google.

See also Michael Geist's commentary:

Privacy right may extend even to computers owned by employer. Workplace policy not determinative. http://t.co/zuTu5sf9