PwC vs. employee privacy

PwC developed a facial recognition tool that logs when employees are absent from their computer screens while they work from home. In particular, there have to be a specific excuse for any absence (including toilet breaks).

Too invasive? No doubt. Disproportionate with no likely legal grounds? WP29 Opinion 2/2017 on data processing at work suggests a positive answer, especially given that the tool monitors employees in their private location.

Predictably, this caused a barrage of criticism from different privacy enthusiasts, followed by unconvincing explanations provided by PwC that this tool helps “support the compliance environment required for traders and front office staff in financial institutions”.

Read below to learn more:

At the same time, there might be much more than meets the eye: monitoring of employees from their homes may also occasionally involve monitoring of their family members through webcams. Besides, depending on technical peculiarities and an ability to scan the background in a private premise, such monitoring may also reveal some special categories data about, e.g., employees’ sex life or religious beliefs (Article 9 of the GDPR).