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Privacy Law Resources |
The workplace has been at the centre of the so-called information revolution which has swept industrialised societies in recent decades. Work environments often reflect the very latest technological developments in computers, multimedia units, printers, scanners, facsimile machines, photocopiers, telecommunications devices, and security equipment. Video cameras have been rapidly accepted into an environment which is both already oriented towards the adoption of new technologies, and in which new technologies are a key means of securing a competitive edge over other firms.
Video surveillance systems are becoming integral to the operations of many employers. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the reasons behind the installation of video surveillance. Analysed as a whole, it is evident that the major reason for employers using video surveillance is for protection from security risks such as theft, vandalism, and threats to the safety of employees. But there is also evidence to suggest that video surveillance often serves more than one purpose, and that its most significant impact on the privacy of employees is usually the result of its use for purposes other than those for which it was originally installed.