Sorry about the National Post but they broke the story.
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Sorry about the National Post but they broke the story.
But also what the fuck. I hope everyone is happy to be paying for that!
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The federal justice department has widened its use of heat and motion sensors installed under staff’s desks, raising further concerns from staff and a union that they could eventually be used to monitor office attendance even if their employer swears it won’t.
In a memo to impacted staff, Justice Canada officials said it was launching a new phase of a controversial project started in 2023 to gather data about office space utilization using heat and motion sensors.
The devices are installed under employees’ desks as well as in common workspaces. According to the memo, the sensors provide anonymous data about how a workspace is being used, but not who is using it.
@stephanie “What do you mean I can no longer keep those computers, power outlets, and space heater on a timer under my desk?”
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R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic on
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Sorry about the National Post but they broke the story.
But also what the fuck. I hope everyone is happy to be paying for that!
---
The federal justice department has widened its use of heat and motion sensors installed under staff’s desks, raising further concerns from staff and a union that they could eventually be used to monitor office attendance even if their employer swears it won’t.
In a memo to impacted staff, Justice Canada officials said it was launching a new phase of a controversial project started in 2023 to gather data about office space utilization using heat and motion sensors.
The devices are installed under employees’ desks as well as in common workspaces. According to the memo, the sensors provide anonymous data about how a workspace is being used, but not who is using it.
You would think they would have gone with air quality monitors that alert to toxins and other health-related issues for employees, but no, they went full on 1984 on steroids.
Who thought this was a good idea?
I've been thinking that having all government employees in concentrated locations is a huge security risk in 2026. Now this? Who has access to the data? Why would you risk your GOVERNMENT being tracked by foreign interests?
The Department of Justice is aware of the Privacy Act and how it pertains to the tracking and sharing of medical information. One of the first things done in diagnosing illness and fertility is to check temperatures.
Also, in Ontario there are rules about informing employees and getting their consent to be monitored.
I see a lawsuit and declining trust in the government.
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R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic on
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@stephanie That's bloody creepy.
@WTL And like why use technology? Someone with a clipboard doing a tally at the same time everyday (not attendance) would be cheaper and less creepy. @stephanie
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@WTL And like why use technology? Someone with a clipboard doing a tally at the same time everyday (not attendance) would be cheaper and less creepy. @stephanie
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Sorry about the National Post but they broke the story.
But also what the fuck. I hope everyone is happy to be paying for that!
---
The federal justice department has widened its use of heat and motion sensors installed under staff’s desks, raising further concerns from staff and a union that they could eventually be used to monitor office attendance even if their employer swears it won’t.
In a memo to impacted staff, Justice Canada officials said it was launching a new phase of a controversial project started in 2023 to gather data about office space utilization using heat and motion sensors.
The devices are installed under employees’ desks as well as in common workspaces. According to the memo, the sensors provide anonymous data about how a workspace is being used, but not who is using it.
@stephanie When will the "rational thought" detectors be distributed to managers & senior administrators?
-
Sorry about the National Post but they broke the story.
But also what the fuck. I hope everyone is happy to be paying for that!
---
The federal justice department has widened its use of heat and motion sensors installed under staff’s desks, raising further concerns from staff and a union that they could eventually be used to monitor office attendance even if their employer swears it won’t.
In a memo to impacted staff, Justice Canada officials said it was launching a new phase of a controversial project started in 2023 to gather data about office space utilization using heat and motion sensors.
The devices are installed under employees’ desks as well as in common workspaces. According to the memo, the sensors provide anonymous data about how a workspace is being used, but not who is using it.
@stephanie But the project failed to monitor when these warm bodies go out to lunch, where and how much they spend. This is the data desired, but it will be extrapolated from when and for how long the warm bodies are away from the desk.
But maybe complimentary lavatory monitoring data will suffice.
Measuring real productivity? Never ...
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@stephanie @WTL Facilities does it at my work. Literally tally counting. It was used to identify a certain desk set up that was never ever used, and now it's functional space!
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@stephanie @WTL Facilities does it at my work. Literally tally counting. It was used to identify a certain desk set up that was never ever used, and now it's functional space!
@dairpo @stephanie That's bonkers.
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@dairpo @stephanie That's bonkers.
Could they not have just asked the employees which desk set up worked and which didn't ?
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You would think they would have gone with air quality monitors that alert to toxins and other health-related issues for employees, but no, they went full on 1984 on steroids.
Who thought this was a good idea?
I've been thinking that having all government employees in concentrated locations is a huge security risk in 2026. Now this? Who has access to the data? Why would you risk your GOVERNMENT being tracked by foreign interests?
The Department of Justice is aware of the Privacy Act and how it pertains to the tracking and sharing of medical information. One of the first things done in diagnosing illness and fertility is to check temperatures.
Also, in Ontario there are rules about informing employees and getting their consent to be monitored.
I see a lawsuit and declining trust in the government.
@AnnieBuddy @stephanie I assume Ontario employment law doesn't apply to federal employees but there are absolutely human rights and Charter arguments to make.
It's a good point that we certainly shouldn't be compiling masses of personal data that can be accessed by the hostile government(s) we pay for software and storage. And it's infuriating that they'll spend money on surveillance but not on health.
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