OSC: Water Cooler Test Down the Drain

In 2002, the Office of Special Counsel issued an advisory opinion on the use of government e-mail for political purposes. OSC said this was improper, except for a limited "water cooler" exception. Only very limited use, the equivalent of oral informal discussions as is widely accepted in office settings, was OK.

That was then, this is now: OSC now has rescinded the advisory opinion, and points to some cases it says have evisiverated even the limited "water cooler" exception. Here's an OSC press release, featuring this quote from Special Counsel Scott Bloch:

The four MSPB decisions send a clear message to the federal community. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from sending e-mails that advocate for a political party or candidate for partisan public office while on duty or in a federal building, and engaging in such activity may subject them to disciplinary action, including the loss of their job. No political activity means no political activity, regardless of the specific technology used.