Many of Germany's top companies are blocking access to Facebook and other social networking sites over fears of industrial espionage and other security concerns, according to a report released Sunday.
Business weekly Wirtsc-haftswoche said in an advance copy of its Monday issue that many companies on the Dax-30 blue chip index saw an unacceptable risk posed by employees using such sites at work.
Construction materials group HeidelbergCement drew similar conclusions before outlawing Facebook and micro-blogging site Twitter, and automaker Volkswagen said it had also banned "various social networks". Beyond the risk of staff revealing trade secrets in online chats, companies fear that such sites could expose them to computer viruses transmitted by clicking on a link within someone's 'wall', according to the report. Worries over lost productivity prompted other corporations such as Daimler to pull the plug on Facebook for some of its staff.