Final report on the Inquiry into Workplace Surveillance
A new report by the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee demonstrates how employees’ privacy is threatened by increasingly intrusive and accessible surveillance technologies.
The Inquiry into Workplace Surveillance found that emerging surveillance technologies magnify the power imbalance between employees and employers, with marginalised and diverse people more likely to experience the harmful impacts of intense workplace surveillance.
The report, available to view on the Parliament of Victoria website, also highlighted that the current rules in Victoria that govern workplace surveillance are inadequate, particularly as the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (PDP Act) only applies to Victorian Public Sector organisations.
OVIC is broadly supportive of the 18 recommendations made in the report, particularly those that relate to changes to the PDP Act:
- Introducing an Information Privacy Principle (IPP) that obliges organisations to ensure they comply with the IPPs
- Including biometric data in the definition of sensitive information
- Introducing a mandatory incident notification scheme
- Extending privacy protections to employees in all sectors.
OVIC made two submission to the Inquiry into Workplace Surveillance, which can be accessed on the OVIC website.
The report is an opportunity to reflect on both the importance and the fragility of privacy. New technology and social practices can threaten to erode the foundations of individual privacy. Reinforcing these foundations requires an ongoing conversation about how best to protect privacy from the threats it faces. This is particularly timely as we celebrate Privacy Awareness Week from 16 June – 22 June 2025.
OVIC thanks the Committee and all those who made contributions to this important report.