WASHINGTON — The Interior Department’s inspector general has unearthed evidence of widespread computer misuse among government employees, including numerous visits to sites featuring adult content and gambling.

In a 15-page report titled “Excessive Indulgences” Earl Devaney found that Interior Department employees were abusing their Internet access by searching four broad categories: Pornography, gambling, shopping and games.

The week-long investigation focused only those categories, Devaney said, point out that the report was a “narrow study” of the problem.

“Our review of one week of computer use logs revealed over 4,732 log entries relating to sexually explicit and gambling websites," Devaney said.

Compounding matters, Devany said the limited study lead his office to conclude that its estimate of inappropriate online activity by Interior Department employees, particularly with respect to sites with sexual content, was conservative and on the low side.

The report also referenced several past instances of Interior Department computers being used to access child pornography. The report chronicles several prosecutions of Interior Department employees who were eventually convicted of possession of child pornography.

According to the report, unauthorized Internet use at the 80,000 worker-strong Interior Department costs taxpayers $2 million in lost wages.

Accessing sexually explicit and gambling sites is prohibited by federal regulations and Interior Department policy.

The report also found that a number of Interior Department employees wasted time accessing online game and shopping sites, neither of which is specifically prohibited. The report estimates that employees accessing sites not specifically banned squandered 104,211 productivity hours.

While some Interior Department employees have faced disciplinary actions for abusing their Internet access, the report concluded that the number of total disciplinary actions was “minimal.”

Source: XBiz