Widespread Use of Surveillance Equipment in Domestic and International Offices and Workplaces
From AI-Equipped CCTV to Human-Implanted Microchips
Some Raise Concerns Over the Advent of 'Surveillance Capitalism'
"Companies Are Already Collecting Massive Data Without Our Consent"
Experts Call for "Revising Related Laws"
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Juhyung Lim] "The company CEO installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) in the office without employees' consent." "They said it was for theft prevention, but the CCTV installed in the office was actually used to monitor employees."
This is part of the 'CCTV labor surveillance' cases revealed by the civic group 'Workplace Bullying 119' on the 7th. Workplace Bullying 119 reported that among 1,588 verified email reports of workplace harassment received by the end of June this year, 181 cases (11.4%) involved CCTV surveillance or unfair instructions. Some victims suffered from panic disorder due to intense monitoring stress or suffered from cystitis because they could not properly use the restroom.
With the advancement of electronic technology, cases of monitoring labor environments through workplace CCTV and smartphone applications are spreading both domestically and internationally. Some express concerns that indiscriminate adoption of such surveillance technologies could lead to the advent of 'surveillance capitalism.'
Experts advised that laws need to be revised to prevent the abuse of surveillance technology in offices and workplaces.
Workplace Bullying 119 explained, "Unlike in the past, CCTV prices have become affordable, and recently, CCTV that can monitor 24 hours just by installing a smartphone app has been distributed," adding, "Now, CCTV is being misused as a means to monitor employees and find weaknesses to dismiss them."
In fact, surveillance technologies including CCTV are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As CCTV becomes smaller and cheaper, blind spots in the workplace have virtually disappeared, and recently developed products are equipped with microphones and infrared sensors to track employees' conversations and movements.
Overseas, the introduction of workplace surveillance technology is also actively progressing. In China, the Beijing Automation Institute unveiled a system on the 6th that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with CCTV to accurately recognize construction site workers and identify those pretending to work while slacking off.
Last January, the Michigan House of Representatives in the United States passed a bill prohibiting companies from implanting electronic chips in employees' bodies. The photo shows a microchip implanted in the human body / Photo by Internet Capture
Advanced countries such as the United States are not exempt from this trend. Some U.S. companies faced fierce criticism last year for implanting tiny chips in employees' hands to track biometric information. As the controversy grew, the Michigan State House passed a bill in January prohibiting companies from forcing electronic chip implants on workers when hiring.
Some express concerns that if surveillance technology continues to spread in workplaces and daily spaces, a 'surveillance capitalism' society may emerge.
'Surveillance capitalism' is a term coined by Shoshana Zuboff, emeritus professor at Harvard Business School, referring to a capitalist society where companies directly collect data generated by human behavior to generate profits.
Professor Zuboff stated in her book published last year, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, that most digital products surrounding us today are essentially equipped with surveillance sensors, and "giant companies like Google and Facebook are transferring massive amounts of data to other companies without our consent."
She further warned, "In the past, humans were the subjects who directly produced and consumed goods and services, but in the era of surveillance capitalism, humans are reduced to entities that only generate data needed to provide information to companies," adding, "In such a society, humans equipped with information and knowledge will enjoy unprecedented power compared to those without."
Experts suggested that legal revisions are necessary to prevent unauthorized surveillance of individuals without consent for personal data collection.
Kim Hana, a lawyer at Workplace Bullying 119, emphasized, "The Labor Standards Act should be amended to clearly prohibit employers from installing and operating video information processing devices for the purpose of watching or monitoring workers within the workplace."
Under current law, installing CCTV in public places and monitoring labor environments can result in fines of up to 50 million KRW. The problem is that most workplaces such as general offices and workshops where workers operate are considered private spaces.
Lawyer Kim advised, "Regulations should be established to prevent the use of information collected by CCTV to disadvantage workers in personnel matters, and if labor surveillance issues arise, the employer should bear the burden of proof to demonstrate that no surveillance occurred."
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