Amazon Fined Nearly USD 35 Million by France’s CNIL Over Excessive Employee Surveillance
France’s National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL) has fined Amazon 32 million euros (nearly $35 million), stating that the system used by the company to monitor employee activity and performance in its warehouses was deemed excessive. The CNIL conducted multiple investigations following press articles about Amazon’s practices and received several complaints from employees.
The CNIL ruled that it was unlawful to establish a system that measured work interruptions with such precision, potentially forcing employees to justify every break or interruption. Additionally, the CNIL deemed the system for measuring the speed at which items were scanned as excessive. It argued that scanning items too quickly raised the risk of errors, as an indicator measured whether an item had been scanned in less than 1.25 seconds after the previous one. The CNIL also considered it excessive for Amazon to retain all the collected data, along with resulting statistical indicators, for every employee and temporary worker for a period of 31 days.
The close surveillance imposed on employees through these systems put them under continuous pressure while performing tasks with scanners. The CNIL emphasized that this computer monitoring contributed to the company’s economic gains and provided Amazon with a competitive advantage over other online sales market players due to the large number of individuals affected, which amounted to several thousand.
Amazon has expressed its strong disagreement with the CNIL’s conclusions, asserting that they are factually incorrect, and the company intends to appeal. According to Amazon, the use of warehouse management systems aligns with standard industry practices. These systems are essential to ensure safe, efficient operations, maintain quality standards, track inventory, and process packages in a timely manner, meeting customer expectations.
The CNIL’s decision to fine Amazon serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting employee privacy and ensuring that surveillance measures do not exceed reasonable and lawful limits.
This move by the CNIL highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by tech giants regarding their treatment of employees and the potential infringements on privacy rights. It also emphasizes the need for companies to strike a balance between monitoring productivity and respecting the well-being and privacy of their workforce.
As the case progresses, Amazon’s response to the CNIL’s ruling will undoubtedly be closely watched, not only by employees and privacy advocates but also by other industry players and regulators worldwide. The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for future actions regarding employee surveillance practices, influencing companies’ approach to monitoring their workforce globally.
In conclusion, the CNIL’s imposition of a significant fine on Amazon underscores the need for companies to ensure that their employee surveillance measures are reasonable and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Balancing productivity with privacy rights remains a critical aspect that organizations must address to foster a healthy and respectful work environment.
