Biometrics in the workplace may be the way of the future. But at what cost? | CBC Radio

When Ellie Thomson arrives at work, she does not punch in on a bodily clock and even examine in on an app. Instead, she scans her finger. 

“Seeing everyone else go ahead and do it, it just figured like the right thing to do and there was no issues with it,'” Thomson advised Cost of Living. 

Thomson is a 21-year-old server and bartender at charbar in Calgary. She’s one of many staff who now use biometric know-how corresponding to fingerprint scanning to clock in and out, and that quantity is rising. 

Biometrics is already a billion-dollar business. According to a report by market analysis agency IMARC Group, the international biometrics market reached $39 billion US in 2023. 

And whereas Thomson is not frightened about the proven fact that charbar has her fingerprint, privateness consultants are elevating considerations about the development.

Why the shift?

According to Hannah Johnston, who specializes in the digitalization of work and teaches human assets administration at York University in Toronto, employers have began utilizing biometrics in the workplace for a quantity of causes. 

She says employers argue it is extra handy, as individuals most frequently remember their finger or thumb at house, like one may overlook a swipe card. She additionally says staff have began utilizing fingerprint scans for a punch clock as a result of they are saying it’s extra correct. 

They need to know precisely when somebody punches in, and be assured nobody else is doing it for them.

But not everyone seems to be on board. 

Jeff Bromley, head of the Wood Council for United Steelworkers Canada, says when fingerprint time clocks have been launched at Canfor’s Plateau Sawmill in Vanderhoof, B.C., in 2022, individuals revolted. 

“They were pissed off to no end,” mentioned Bromley. “At the end of the day, they didn’t have a choice, unless they wanted to find another job or get fired.”

About 100 employees petitioned towards the firm for its use of biometrics, citing an unreasonable invasion of privateness, and the union filed a grievance. But an arbitrator sided with the firm. 

Bromley says some individuals left the firm over it, and others have been fired for refusing to take part. CBC requested an interview from Canfor, however the firm declined.

Those safety considerations, Urs Hengartner says, are legitimate. Hengartner teaches laptop science at the University of Waterloo and specializes in info privateness. 

He says fingerprint scans create a digital copy referred to as a template, and whereas it is not an actual reproduction of a fingerprint, it is a fairly correct copy. 

“Lots of research has shown that using this template, it is possible to reconstruct a fingerprint,” he mentioned. “Maybe not precisely your fingerprint, but a fingerprint that will allow the hacker to login as you.”

“This is, from a privacy point of view, a problem, but also from a security point of view.”

Raising considerations

Johnston says there is not a straightforward way for workers to choose out of many of these varieties of biometric clock-ins if they’re uncomfortable with it. 

“One of the reasons that [it’s] so concerning that [biometric data is] being used in these types of forums is that it’s highly sensitive and highly personalized,” mentioned Johnston.

“If the objective of this type of system is to monitor working time, I would argue that there are many ways to achieve that type of exercise in ways that are less invasive.”

She says there are essential questions she believes must be requested, corresponding to how the information is getting used, saved and disposed of. That’s the place Johnston says the Canadian authorities must step in.

Diane McLeod, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, says when analyzing instances involving information assortment, her workplace considers what’s at threat if there’s a breach. 

“You can’t change your biometrics,” mentioned McLeod. 

“[If] the information was breached and somehow that fingerprint was replicated, and then it was used to stand in your shoes for other kinds of biometric applications, then that leaves the individual without any recourse.”

She says organizations can solely accumulate private info if there’s a cheap function for gathering that info, and there should be consent. 

The commissioner says she’s creating suggestions and fascinating the Alberta authorities to guard information corresponding to biometrics collected in the workplace.

“I would encourage people that are being subjected to these kinds of tools to actually make a complaint to our office because then it gives us an opportunity to make a decision and get an interpretation out there for other organizations to consider,” mentioned McLeod.

Nancy Shapiro, an employment lawyer primarily based in Toronto, says that as of now, apart from disclosing to staff what is being monitored, there aren’t too many different rights that an worker has.

She says there are not any legal guidelines stopping the use of biometrics in the workplace in any province, or at the federal degree in Canada.

“If you’re not happy with anything at work, you’re always free to find a new job. The power of employees is really limited to that — it’s simply looking for work elsewhere,” mentioned Shapiro. 

Going ahead 

Not solely is Johnston involved about the present use of biometrics in the workplace. She’s frightened about what may come subsequent. 

“The thought of normalizing something like biometric data collection is very concerning, because if we acquiesce to allow that for entrance into the workplace, then what?” mentioned Johnston. 

“Is our computer going to start scanning our face to make sure that we’re the one sitting in front of our workstation?… It’s just a very slippery slope.”

Meanwhile, Thomson is ok with charbar having her fingerprint on file. In truth, she says there are some advantages. 

It provides her the confidence that she is aware of nobody else can clock on or off for her.

She says we already use our faces and fingerprints to open our telephones and to pay for issues. As far as her work life has been, biometrics is all she’s identified.

“I guess there’s a mild concern for identity theft, but as a 21-year-old in my situation, it’s not something that I’m overly concerned with, probably just because it hasn’t been brought up to me,” mentioned Thomson. 

“Until they start asking for blood samples, I think it’ll be OK,” mentioned Thomson.