“The questioner and I were in the virtual room alone together. Or were we?”

We all have an implicit understanding of what “confidential” means, but in practice it’s open to misunderstanding – fortunately, the law can help

OLIVIA WHITCROFT

I was taken by surprise on Teams the other day with the question: “Please may I speak to you about a confidential matter?” As a solicitor, one of my professional duties is to keep the affairs of my clients confidential, and I am used to confidential discussions. So the request itself was not unusual. The surprising factor was that it was being asked in a meeting attended by 20 people. It was during a break in a training course, and I was sharing a picture of a cup of tea. The other delegates had their cameras and mics switched off, so presumably had retired to their real kitchens to enjoy a real cup of tea. The questioner and I were in the virtual room alone together. Or were we? Maybe…

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PC Pro (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2025

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