Publishing and Accessing Information on Electronic Networks
The technology of the international computer network (Internet) and the evolving applications and standards that support it (especially the World Wide Web) provide unprecedented power to access and publish information almost instantaneously. Its impact on the collaborative field of high energy physics is particularly profound. It is an ideal tool for communication in the field. Fermilab strongly encourages its use.
This new capability comes with new challenges and individual responsibilities since this technology invites a much more immediate and wide dissemination of information. Despite the new power of this technology, the fundamental policy of Fermilab, and of its parent agency, about information and the use of government property remains unchanging and simple:
1. Fermilab's single mission is science and the laboratory will maintain an open scientific environment where the free exchange of ideas is encouraged and protected.
2. The use of government property is for the government's purposes only.
There is no real conflict between these two principles since Fermilab's mission is for the government's purposes. The problem is in the interpretation of which ideas and what information are in the interests of Fermilab's science and open environment. Fermilab's policy is to take the broadest possible interpretation. There is a large grey area, and, to protect the free exchange of ideas, it is the responsibility of every Fermilab employee and user to use common sense and good judgement.
Some material is not in the grey area. Sexually related material is clearly inappropriate, and when found either on Fermilab computers or posted externally from a Fermilab network address, Fermilab will initiate disciplinary action, including, at minimum, suspension without pay for employees, or suspension of site and computer access privileges, for users. In some cases, certainly those involving the felonious possession of pornography involving children, the government will take criminal action. Other legally prohibited material, such as interstate gambling information, could also bring severe disciplinary or criminal sanctions.
Many people access the network and its postings. Most of them are from outside the scientific culture, and they may not understand how a particular posting may be related to the government's business. Therefore, it is Fermilab's policy that material which is published or posted with external visibility must be clearly related to Fermilab's scientific mission.
The ease of use of this technology breaks down traditional mechanical barriers to publication prior to review. The disappearance of these barriers does not permit bypassing established rules and procedures regarding publication. For the purposes of these rules and procedures, electronically posted information with visibility external to the Fermilab community are to be understood as public documents.
The many crosslinks possible (on the Web, for example), and their ephemeral nature, means that pointers (links) to external addresses can quickly become a source of embarrassment. Employees and users should use common sense in displaying links on pages with Fermilab addresses; a link should only point to material that is predominately appropriate reference material -- and likely to stay that way.
The Head of the Directorate's Office of Public Affairs has the responsibility for maintaining a home page and auxiliary pages presenting Fermilab to the public. Other laboratory entities may also provide such public information. In each case, there must be an individual, approved in writing by a Division/Section Head or a Scientific Spokesperson and identified on the electronic page, with responsibility for the material. Division/Section Heads and Spokespersons are responsible for determining the classes of material that should be posted for external (as opposed to Fermilab community) access.
Under the oversight of the Associate Director for computing and information, the Computing Division, through a Lab Webmaster, will manage and lead the use of the World Wide Web and related information systems. The Computing Division will disseminate rules and procedures to implement the policy described here and in related policy statements, and will provide evolving technical guidance particularly with regard to protection of material not released for external viewing. The Computing Division also prepares related documents such as "Proper Use of Fermilab Computing Facilities" and "Responsibilities of Fermilab Computer Users".