A report from the Human Technology Institute has documented the expanding use of surveillance and artificial intelligence in Australian workplaces, ranging from CCTV systems to keystroke monitoring and location tracking through workplace applications. The institute found these monitoring tools deployed across multiple sectors, including retail, manufacturing, food service and office environments, often without workers’ full awareness of the extent of surveillance occurring.
The report provided specific examples of monitoring practices that raised concerns. At a major fast-food chain, young employees reportedly avoided using change rooms after discovering cameras had been installed to prevent phone use during breaks. In another case, a supermarket cashier received a final written warning based on an AI system that flagged her error rate at 0.18%, equivalent to one mistake per 533 items scanned. Microsoft Teams was highlighted as a common platform for workplace surveillance, particularly following the company’s deployment of automatic location updates when employees connect to office wifi networks.
A March 2026 poll commissioned by Minderoo found that while 43% of Australians were aware some employers use technology including AI for worker monitoring, only 9% realized such monitoring occurred in their own workplace. The Human Technology Institute attributed the growth in workplace surveillance to gaps in Australia’s Privacy Act, which includes exemptions for employee records and small businesses.
The institute has recommended that the federal government strengthen workplace privacy protections through amendments to the Fair Work Act, establishing fairness and reasonableness tests for surveillance implementation. Additional recommendations include granting the relevant minister power to prohibit surveillance products deemed to pose unacceptable risks to workers’ rights, with particular concern raised about smartglasses technology. The report also calls for mandatory employer engagement with employees regarding workplace monitoring and improved consent procedures, along with establishing a dedicated complaints scheme within the Fair Work Commission.
The Human Technology Institute presented its findings to the joint standing committee on artificial intelligence this week as hearings focused on AI in the workplace. Labor senator Tony Sheldon described the report as raising critical concerns about the impact of surveillance on workers’ privacy, health and dignity.
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