On 1 May, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a request for public input (RFI) on how automated tools are being used to surveil, monitor and manage workers, with a focus on advancing the regulatory understanding of the design, deployment, prevalence and impact of these automated technologies.
According to OSTP, employers are increasingly investing in RFID, scanner and monitoring technologies to monitor and track workers, and making workplace decisions based on that information. According to The New York Times, eight of the 10 largest private U.S. employers track their workers to assess their productivity.
Through this RFI, OSTP hopes to gather:
- Workers’ firsthand experiences with surveillance technologies
- Details from employers, technology developers, and vendors on how they develop, sell and use these technologies
- Best practices for mitigating risks to workers
- Relevant data and research
- Ideas for how the federal government should respond to any relevant risks and opportunities
The information collected will be used to inform new policy responses, share relevant research, data and findings with the public, and amplify best practices among employers, worker organizations, technology vendors, developers, and others in civil society.
The OSTP RFI on Automated Worker Surveillance and Management lists five broad questions with multiple specific questions for input, which can be accessed at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/050123_OSTP_RFI_PREPUBLISH_.pdf
Comments are requested by 15 June 2023 and can be submitted by email to: workersurveillance@ostp.eop.gov
For more information on the OSTP request, see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/05/01/hearing-from-the-american-people-how-are-automated-tools-being-used-to-surveil-monitor-and-manage-workers/
