Potential Pitfalls Of Using Biometric Recognition Equipment In Employment

Guidance has recently been issued by the Information Commissioner's Office on biometric data.

In an age where technology shapes our daily lives more than ever, biometric recognition devices have become increasingly prevalent. The benefits are clear, it offers enhanced security with convenience, no need to remember passwords (or risk losing them) when all that is required is a fingerprint.

But the use of such technology gives rise to legal risks and compliance issues. This can be seen from recent media coverage involving challenges brought by employees to the use of biometric recognition devices at work. In the first example, the Information Commissioner's Office ("ICO") took steps to issue enforcement notices against an employer that was utilising facial recognition technology ("FRT") and fingerprint scanning to monitor employee attendance. However, such technology can lead to employment tribunal claims too. This was recently seen in relation to an employment