Safety & policy

Human Technology Institute urges tighter workplace privacy laws

The University of Technology Sydney's Human Technology Institute warns that employers increasingly use CCTV, keystroke monitoring and messaging tracking, and that AI is speeding up the trend. In a report released on Tuesday, it says many workers don't know they are being monitored. A March 2026 Minderoo-commissioned poll found 43% of Australians knew some employers monitor staff, but only 9% knew it happened in their own workplace. The institute wants the federal government to build privacy protections into workplace laws, pointing to Privacy Act exemptions for employee records and small businesses.

Why it matters: If you monitor staff with cameras, software or AI, expect rules on consent and fairness to tighten. These are recommendations, not law yet, so check how your current tools are used.

Source: The Guardian