If your company wants, it can block your phone... company-issued or personal

A new global cloud-based service offered by SingTel - in response to companies' growing concerns on potential market-sensitive data leaks - has, in turn, sparked worries about privacy issues among working professionals here.

Last week, the telco launched a service called the SingTel Mobility Device Manager (MDM) service, which would let companies remotely track and control corporate data in their employees' mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, which could be company-issued or personal.

Below are some of the functions:

1. If the devices are lost, this service allows companies to delete the corporate information or lock the devices remotely, to prevent sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.
2. It also means that the companies can, if they choose to, track the location of the devices - and the employees - in Singapore and overseas.
3. Another feature allows companies' IT departments to create a list of banned apps from popular app stores such as Apple App Store. The company will be aware should an employee download any of the banned apps, either in the office or anywhere else.
4. Through a Web-based portal, employers could also deploy company-specific apps on their employees' devices.

OUT OF LINE

Singapore Human Resources Institute executive director David Ang felt that such a service blurs the boundaries between the official and the personal at work.

Ms S Tan, 38, a senior manager at an MNC said: "I don't think any company should and can control employees' personal mobile phones, as there could be a backlash."

Mr Theron Lam, 31, who works in finance, was also against the idea, saying: "I understand the need for security, but I think the company would definitely be crossing a line if they want to control our personal mobile phones even to protect corporate information."

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