Leisure center operators have been ordered to stop using facial recognition technology to monitor employee attendance.
Serco Leisure was using this alongside fingerprint scanning of over 2,000 employees on its payroll.
The Information Commissioner’s Office said this was illegal and the company had failed to demonstrate why it needed biometric data rather than “less intrusive means” such as ID cards.
This comes amid the rise of technology in business and growing concerns about the risks of artificial intelligence.
Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “Biometric data is completely unique to an individual, so the risk of harm if it’s inaccurate or a security breach occurs is much greater. Like a password. You cannot reset someone else’s face or fingerprint.”
Ashley is doing well
mike ashley gets packed vapor He took the lead in taking over the stock of model railway manufacturer Hornby.
His Frasers Group, currently the third largest investor with an 8.9% stake, said this was “strategic”. In the company’s gaming business he stocks Hornby products.
reddit float
Social media site Reddit has filed plans to list on a multibillion-dollar stock market in New York, allowing its largest users to buy shares.
The business was co-founded in 2005 by Alexis Ohanian, husband of legendary tennis player Serena Williams. Sam Altman, the man behind ChatGPT, is his third largest investor in the company.
up the chart
Standard Chartered boss Bill Winters said while revealing a sharp rise in quarterly profits, the £16.1bn market capitalization did not reflect the bank’s outlook.
Mr Winters, who was paid £7.8m last year, is now trying to boost Standard’s share price with massive share buybacks and dividends.
good week
NVIDIA President Jensen Huang saw the AI chipmaker’s value reach $2 trillion, sparking a rise in global stock markets.
bad week
Henry Stanton, head of the Export Post Office, gets into a spat with MP Kemi Badenoch over cash from Horizon victims.