Biometric data, which is commonly collected by Illinois employers, is any statistical information related to the physical characteristics or behavior patterns of an individual or group. The most common use of biometric data in the realm of employment is to control employee access to sensitive areas or to monitor employee behavior. Here is more about what biometric data is and how it might affect your employment.
What are types of biometric data?
The most widely collected and utilized forms of biometric data include fingerprints, retina scans, facial recognition, voice recognition and digital signatures. The three components of a biometric data system are the scanning device to measure the biometric data, the software that converts the data into a uniform digital format for analysis and a database that stores the data for future use.
Biometric data and employee rights
The crossroads between a company's right to collect biometric data to streamline its business flow and employee rights has become an area of contention between the business community and worker advocacy groups. According to one 2018 survey, 6% of North American and European firms reported tracking employees' biometric data.
Illinois law and biometric data
The 2008 Biometric Information Privacy Act requires employers to first get permission from their employees and make disclosures about how it is collecting biometric data and for what purposes. It also requires written consent from employees. The law prohibits employers from profiting off of that biometric data. These provisions are widely considered some of the most robust biometric privacy protections.
Contact USA Employment Lawyers if you believe that your biometric data may have been illegally obtained or used by an employer. You may want to learn more about your rights concerning biometric information as an employee.
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