Bill > AB1221

This bill introduces comprehensive regulations for workplace surveillance tools, aiming to protect worker privacy and provide transparency about data collection in employment settings. The bill requires employers to provide detailed written notice to workers at least 30 days before implementing any surveillance technology, explaining what data will be collected, how it will be used, and why it is necessary. Critically, the bill prohibits employers from using surveillance tools that incorporate facial recognition, gait recognition, or emotion recognition technology, except in very limited circumstances like securing access to locked areas. The legislation also prevents employers from using these tools to infer sensitive personal information about workers, such as immigration status, religious beliefs, disability status, or criminal history. Employers are restricted from selling or transferring worker data to third-party vendors without strict contractual protections, and they must allow workers to access and correct their collected data. Workers are given strong protections against retaliation for challenging surveillance practices, and the bill empowers the Labor Commissioner to enforce these provisions, with potential civil penalties of $500 per violation. The goal is to create a balanced approach that allows employers necessary monitoring while protecting workers' privacy and preventing invasive or discriminatory surveillance practices.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1221