Top US Consumer Watchdog Warns Firms Over Tracking Workers

A top US consumer watchdog warned companies not to use tools that track or assess their workers without their knowledge or permission, a move that comes amid the emergence of new technology making it easier to monitor staffers.

Employers are increasingly deploying tools such as algorithmic scores or background dossiers to assess workers, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said in a statement Thursday. These third-party reports could be used to predict activity such as union organizing or job departures, as well as tracking performance and social media activity that may influence career advancement or hiring decisions, the CFPB said.