Nope, nope and nope, OM. Just the way it is--and rightfully so. However, if the employer gives the employee permission to do so, then there's no problem.

Spying may be the wrong term to use. Do you recall the kaflooha when kids were given lap tops by their school. The kids could take them home, and many did. Seems the school had arranged for the machines' viewing thingy to remain active. Then some idiot at the school (teacher I think) was watching some kid in his bedroom doing what--we were left to imagine--ya got one guess. Anyway, that was brought up with the kid who raised shit about it, rightfully so. The case seemed to disappear from the media so I never did find out what happened. I will guess it was settled out of court and a sum of money changed hands and the idiot staff member was given one helluva reprimand, all rightfully so. That was spying.

Reading what people write on the internet is just that: reading what people write on the internet. You may own your computer, but you don't own the sites you visit. You own material you write, but often have NO control over the use that materials is put to. imo, ymmv