More and more companies are using surveillance software to monitor their employees. This is the result of a current report. AI in particular would accelerate this development. The demand is that Germany finally needs an employee data protection law.
In order to be able to take action against the unbridled surveillance pressure in the workplace, Germany finally needs a comprehensive employee data protection law. This is the result of one current report of the Council for Digital Ecology. Accordingly, digital surveillance threatens to create a “dimension of alienation between employees and employers”.
Employee Data Protection Act: Digital surveillance is increasing
As part of the report, various case studies were analyzed. These include working in the warehouse of a logistics company, mobile work and working from home. The result: digital control in the workplace has increased.
The authors focused primarily on automated monitoring systems and algorithms. Programs and IT systems from companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google and OpenAI would open up new control options by recording employee data.
In addition, many German companies use special software to find out how employees use programs such as Skype, Slack or Microsoft Office. The report therefore advocates for a comprehensive employee data protection law that is intended to supplement the Federal Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
AI as a “surveillance catalyst”
Such a law has been on the agenda for some time. However, due to current digital developments, the need is more urgent than before. Artificial intelligence in particular would turn out to be a real “surveillance catalyst” in the workplace.
Nevertheless, the report does not fundamentally speak out against performance monitoring. Rather, the authors call for proportionality and fairness in appropriate controls. Transparent procedures are an essential prerequisite for this. All of this could be regulated by an employee data protection law.
The problem: Hardly any law has such a long history. Again Daily Mirror reports, the then Labor Minister Norbert Blüm (CDU) spoke of an employee data protection law as early as the 1990s. Olaf Scholz, as labor minister in the grand coalition, also promised a corresponding regulation in 2009.
Even in the current one Coalition agreement The traffic light coalition is addressing employee data protection. The federal government promises legal clarity in order to effectively protect the personal rights of employers and employees. There should already be a draft law for this. Loud Daily Mirror However, the FDP is blocking implementation.
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The article Surveillance through AI: Germany needs an employee data protection law by Fabian Peters first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As a Tech Industry expert, I believe that monitoring through AI can provide numerous benefits for companies, such as improved productivity, better decision-making, and enhanced security. However, it is crucial to balance these benefits with the protection of employee data and privacy rights.
Germany, known for its strict data protection laws, should consider implementing an employee data protection law specifically tailored to address the use of AI for monitoring purposes. This law should outline clear guidelines and regulations for companies to follow when collecting and analyzing employee data through AI technologies.
By implementing such a law, Germany can ensure that employees’ privacy rights are respected and protected while still allowing companies to leverage AI for monitoring purposes. This will not only help build trust between employers and employees but also ensure compliance with GDPR regulations.
Overall, monitoring through AI can be a valuable tool for companies, but it must be used responsibly and ethically. Implementing an employee data protection law in Germany will help strike the right balance between leveraging AI for monitoring purposes and safeguarding employee privacy rights.
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