Law Tech: Another Opinion Concerning the Use of Social Media in a Business Environment.

Despite the tenor of my last post, I don't believe that everyone is enthusiatic about Web 2.0 for business. There is the fear that the use of electronic social media (including e-mail) within a business environment can defeat mechanisms designed to protect confidentiality and business secrets, as well hurt productivity. These issues have been highlighted in e-discovery disputes and related litigation. However, the growth of different forms of electronic and social media including the increasing use of them by company employees has also compelled the conclusion by many that businesses (including those which provide legal services) must embrace social media (and incorporate them into business planning and operations) or they may simply be left behind. Mark Henshaw, a "global manager for information security strategy and planning at General Motors" addresses some of these issues in an article passed to me via a Twitter post from Kysen PR, the London based "...business development & marketing consultancy dedicated to professional services firms." There is obviously a tension building on several fronts between business interests that require secrecy/confidentiality and those that may depend upon new forms of social media optimized by open and quick means of communication. How these seemingly competing values are handled (if possible) by a given business including law firms and how they 'fall out' are obviously topics for further discussion.