In a move that has sparked a debate, Google is testing facial-recognition technology at its Kirkland office in Seattle. According to a report by CNBC, security cameras at the site are capturing and comparing employee images to monitor for unauthorised access.
This pilot programme at the Seattle campus is part of a broader trend of heightened security at Google’s locations, including its headquarters in Mountain View, California. The company has faced recent challenges, such as layoffs and employee protests, prompting a stronger focus on maintaining secure and safe environments for its workforce.
This initiative aims to enhance security by preventing unapproved individuals from entering the premises.
However, the deployment of this technology has raised privacy concerns among employees. While Google asserts that the data won’t be stored and is strictly for immediate security use, some employees have described the system as “a little dystopian” and are worried about the potential misuse of facial data. Notably, there is no option for employees to opt out of this facial screening process at the Kirkland office.
Recently, in June first week, Google’s cloud-computing unit executed layoffs across several teams this week. This move had reportedly affected an estimated 100 employees in the “Go To Market” group in the Asia-Pacific region, along with staff in consulting, partner engineering and sustainability units.