Sex, Surfing, and the SEC: Investigation Finds Workers Surfing For Porn on Government Computers

Ever wonder what those guys at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission were doing during the financial market meltdown. A recent investigation uncovered more than two dozen SEC employees and contractors were surfing for porn on their computers, including one supervisor who made more than 1,800 attempts to look up pornography in a 17-day span.

The supervisor with the 1,800 attempts later said to investigators, “[i]t was kind of distraction per se.”

The information was uncovered by The Washington Times, which reviewed more than 150 pages of records and transcripts on investigations by the Inspector General’s office.

Of course, it could be worse. Imagine looking at nude pictures when a live camera broadcasts the moment across national television. That is what happened to a Macquarie Bank adviser in Sydney, Australia when he decided to open pictures of near-nude supermodel Miranda Kerr.

While we have long debate what drives the financial markets, we appear to have an answer.

For the Australian story, click here.