The UK Government has launched a consultation on the use of workplace monitoring technologies (WMTs), on 8 July 2026and is seeking views on whether additional legislative measures are needed to support their responsible use. The consultation comes at a time when employers are routinely making use of technology to monitor workers’ performance, attendance and activity. The consultation applies to England, Scotland and Wales and closes on 30 September 2026.
The Government acknowledges that WMTs can improve productivity, efficiency, regulatory compliance and workplace safety. At the same time, it identifies several serious concerns around privacy, fairness and worker trust. The consultation notes in particular that employees and workers may not understand how such monitoring technologies operate in practice.
WMTs now extend beyond traditional surveillance and can include digital activity and location tracking, communications monitoring and systems that use monitoring data to inform or make decisions affecting workers, including automated decision-making, algorithmic management and AI-enabled tools.
Further, WMTs that use AI models are beginning to be deployed, at a time of increasing alarm over the potential harms which irresponsible use of AI may cause.
The Government is therefore seeking views on whether further measures are needed to improve transparency, worker engagement, and accountability while continuing to support the responsible use of...
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