A UK data protection watchdog has issued an enforcement notice to stop Serco from using facial recognition technology and fingerprint scanning to monitor staff at 38 leisure centers it runs.
Data watchdog investigating use of facial recognition in King's Cross | ITV News
During an investigation, the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK regulator set up to enforce data protection law, found that Serco Leisure and several associated leisure companies had unlawfully processed the biometric data of more than 2,000 employees at all 38 leisure facilities to check attendance and calculate pay.
There is no clear way for staff to opt out of the system, increasing the power imbalance in the workplace and putting people in a position where they feel they have to hand over their biometric data in order to work there
The ICO has also instructed Serco Leisure and trusts to destroy any biometric data they are not legally required to keep within three months.
