Privacy concerns | Major leisure firm ordered to stop using facial recognition tech to track staff attendance

The UK's data watchdog has ordered a major leisure firm to axe its use of facial recognition and fingerprint scanning tech to monitor staff.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ordered public service provider Serco Leisure, Serco Jersey and seven associated community leisure trusts to stop using facial recognition technology (FRT) and fingerprint scanning to monitor employee attendance.

The ICO’s investigation found that Serco Leisure and the trusts have been "unlawfully processing the biometric data of more than 2,000 employees at 38 leisure facilities for the purpose of attendance checks and subsequent payment for their time."

The watchdog said the firm had "failed to show why it is necessary or proportionate to use FRT and fingerprint scanning for this purpose, when there are less intrusive means available such as ID cards or fobs."