Hello, the title sums it up pretty much but here's some details. I live in the US and I have been working for a pretty big company for a few years. I noticed recently that they have put up Flock cameras at all entrances and I really object to it. I would consider a new job but three main factors are really preventing me from doing that. First, I like many of my coworkers and it makes my day easier. Second, I get paid well enough. Third, the job is nearby and its an easy commute. Essentially all the things I want in a job.
What I have done so far:
I have contacted my union rep. The response from the union was essentially indifference to the idea. They claim Flock simply sends the data to our normal security team. They did mention that it was discussed recently otherwise. Last note, I work for a place where vandalism would not be possible due to the nature of the facility.
I'm not really sure what else to do but I didn't want to do nothing. What would you do?
Ethical reasons aside, tampering with the devices is entirely out of the question. First off, it's criminal, and second, you'll be on the shortest of short lists of people who might have done it. (This is more for casual readers of the thread and not OP.)
I agree with the comments that recommend talking more to your union about this. If everything's going to be handled by security anyway, then why even involve the third party?
Agreed on those points. I asked the same exact question to my union rep becuase we already have a very tight security infrastructure due to the nature of our work. I dont mind our business having standard security becuase we are not in the business of data sales. I did not yet get a reply that really answered to that very obvious point.
For a security standpoint, it sounds like your company is exposing everyone to a huge data breach if this gets leaked. And that's assuming Flock has your best interests at heart to begin with. Imagine what an attacker could learn by identifying the nanes, faces, and checkin times of everybody that worked at your company. Nothing good, that's for sure.
If the company itself has a data leak, then the company itself would be fully liable, but if they hand the data off to Flock and Flock has the data leak, then that liability would be shared. I'm entirely anti-Flock, but shared liability for data breaches and—more importantly—potentially lower per-camera monitoring costs (versus hiring full-time security personnel), might be reasons it was employed in this situation.