Really interesting case on workplace surveillance in Germany. Deustch Bahn (railway operator) has been conducting covert surveillance operations without the consent of their employees. It involved covert surveillance operations that were given exotic code names such as “Babylon”, “Traviata” or “Prometheus” as well as a private detective agency.
Deutsche Bahn has submitted a 37-page report to the German government and parliament. In the report, the Bahn admits that three major screenings took place in 1998, 2002/3 and 2005/6.
Although there’s talk of a legal “grey area”, some lawyers are convinced that Deutsche Bahn’s actions were illegal. “Screening the private data of employees and comparing this with the data of supplier companies is in accordance with German data protection law only if the employees themselves and the workers’ council agree with this beforehand. And this was not done apparently. Read more it will be an interesting case 🙂