What are the data protection implications of temperature checks
as a Covid-19 precaution? This article investigates, with reference
to a current investigation by the Hesse Data Protection
Commissioner.
After the phase of coronavirus-related remote working, still in
use in many companies, the question now arises as to what measures
must and may be taken when returning to work onsite, to check
whether an employee may have become infected with the coronavirus.
One well-known measures is temperature checking. This is already
being practised in many countries, but in Germany it is
controversial, especially with regard to data protection issues.
The Hesse state data protection commissioner recently tackled this
issue in relation to retailers.
