Calls to strengthen workplace privacy in Australia as employers turn to AI to track staff
News Source
β’Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:00:03 GMT
π° What Happened
A new report says Australian employers are using more technology to watch workers. Tools include CCTV, card swipes, keystroke logging and tracking of workplace chat. AI is making this cheaper and faster. Many staff do not know it is happening.
Researchers at the Human Technology Institute at UTS gave examples. One fast-food chain put cameras in change rooms to stop young staff using phones, so workers stopped using the rooms. A supermarket cashier got a final warning after an AI system flagged her error rate of 0.18%.
π The Backstory
The Privacy Act has exemptions for employee records and small businesses. The report says this has let workplace monitoring grow with few rules. It wants the Fair Work Act changed so employers must show that any monitoring is fair and reasonable.
A March 2026 poll found 43% of Australians knew some employers use AI to watch staff. Only 9% knew it was used where they work. The report goes to a parliamentary committee looking at AI in the workplace this week.
π― Why It Matters
Most people will work under some form of monitoring. Clear rules decide whether that stays fair, or becomes constant pressure.
A new report says Australian employers are using more technology to watch workers. Tools include CCTV, card swipes, keystroke logging and tracking of workplace chat. AI is making this cheaper and faster. Many staff do not know it is happening.
Researchers at the Human Technology Institute at UTS gave examples. One fast-food chain put cameras in change rooms to stop young staff using phones, so workers stopped using the rooms. A supermarket cashier got a final warning after an AI system flagged her error rate of 0.18%.
The Privacy Act has exemptions for employee records and small businesses. The report says this has let workplace monitoring grow with few rules. It wants the Fair Work Act changed so employers must show that any monitoring is fair and reasonable.
A March 2026 poll found 43% of Australians knew some employers use AI to watch staff. Only 9% knew it was used where they work. The report goes to a parliamentary committee looking at AI in the workplace this week.
Most people will work under some form of monitoring. Clear rules decide whether that stays fair, or becomes constant pressure.