According to researchers at Cracked Labs, employers are increasingly equipping offices with cameras, sensors, access points, Bluetooth beacons and software to monitor their employees' productivity and presence. Cracked Labs, based in Vienna, is an Association to Promote Critical Digital Culture.
Several manufacturers offer solutions for real-time office space monitoring and workplace analytics. These tools allow employers to monitor how employees are using desks and spaces throughout the office. There are also companies that use staff badges to collect a variety of data to track employee behavior.
"Tracking and analyzing employees' desk presence, indoor location and movements is intrusive behavioral monitoring and profiling," the researchers argue. "Even if employers only analyze the data at an aggregate level, they are processing extensive personal data about employee behavior. Once rolled out in the name of 'the good,' whether for employee safety, energy efficiency or simply improving convenience, these technologies normalize far-reaching digital surveillance that can quickly be used for other purposes."
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