Boeing Cancels Employee Monitoring Program Following Backlash

The aerospace giant reverses course on workplace surveillance sensors after privacy concerns from employees and public scrutiny.

Boeing announced the cancellation of its workplace occupancy sensor program, which aimed to monitor office space usage with ceiling-mounted cameras and sensors.
The decision came after employee backlash and media inquiries highlighted concerns about privacy and potential misuse of the data collected.
The sensors, developed by Avuity, were designed to track motion, temperature, light, and noise levels, with Boeing claiming the data would be used for energy and space management without identifying individuals.
Internal documents revealed plans to install thousands of sensors at multiple locations, with estimated costs running into millions of dollars, though Boeing stated some proposals were not pursued.
Critics, including privacy advocates, warned that such technology could normalize intrusive workplace surveillance, despite Boeing’s assurances of aggregated and anonymized data usage.