ICO orders Serco Leisure to stop using facial recognition technology to monitor attendance of leisure centre employees

Summary:

The document highlights the concerns and risks associated with the use of biometric technology, particularly face and fingerprint recognition, in the workplace. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) states that biometric data is unique and cannot be reset like passwords, making inaccuracies or security breaches more dangerous. The ICO criticizes Serco Leisure for prioritizing business interests over employee privacy and failing to provide a clear opt-out option for staff. The regulator emphasizes the need for organizations to mitigate potential risks, including errors in identification and bias in detection, and to demonstrate proportionality in the use of biometric data. The ICO warns that it will intervene and demand accountability from organizations that fail to meet these standards.