Leisure firm told scanning staff faces is illegal

A leisure firm has been warned against using facial recognition technology to scan the faces of its staff, as it violates privacy laws. The firm had been using the technology to monitor employee attendance and track their movements within the workplace.

However, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has stated that the use of facial recognition technology in this manner is illegal under the Data Protection Act. The ICO has warned the leisure firm to cease scanning staff faces immediately and delete any data that has been collected.

This incident serves as a reminder to employers that they must be vigilant when it comes to using new technology in the workplace, and ensure that they are complying with data protection laws.

Facial recognition technology has raised concerns about privacy and surveillance, and the ICO’s intervention in this case highlights the need for companies to be mindful of the legal implications of using such technology on their employees.