Less than $50, anyone can purchase a biometric fingerprint scanner on Amazon. that can integrate directly with HR software. The old-school punch clock – a staple in workplaces for employees paid by the hour – is increasingly being replaced by fingerprint readers.
Even small-scale employers can use this technology. For example, a recent CBC news story about biometrics in the workplace mentioned charbar – a bespoke restaurant – using this technology. The 21-year-old laos whatsapp number data employee interviewed for the article had “no concerns” about her data being collected this way, but for someone who works in privacy and data ethics, this story raised alarm bells. The stakes for identity theft become much higher when that data includes biometric information. The decisions we might make in a cavalier way about our data while we are young can come back to haunt us in the future.
Is This Even Legal? It Depends
Forestry company Canfor implemented TouchID systems to upgrade their HR processes. Even though a hundred employees signed a petition speaking out against the system, and their union took the case to arbitration, Canfor was legally allowed to proceed with the system. The arbitrator concluded that the information collection was “reasonable and permitted” and that the policy could be applied unilaterally. This case sets a dangerous precedent for Canadian workers who are concerned about biometrics in the workplace.