Australian employers are deploying Artificial Intelligence to track staff, prompting urgent calls for stronger workplace privacy regulations. Reports released in February and October 2026 by the University of Technology Sydney's (UTS) Human Technology Institute (HTI) detail widespread use of these monitoring tools, even as a January 2026 poll found only 9% of Australians knew this technology was present in their own workplaces.

This rise in AI surveillance directly impacts Australian workers because current laws are described as outdated and complicated, failing to provide adequate protection against intrusive monitoring practices. The lack of transparency around these technologies can affect employee privacy, dignity, and trust in the workplace, making legal reform a pressing issue for labor rights across the country.

What the records show

The UTS Human Technology Institute's "Snapshot Report, Surveillance Creep," released on February 27, 2026, and its "Drawing the Line" report, issued on October 20, 2026, highlight the extensive deployment of AI-powered monitoring tools across various industries. These technologies include closed-circuit television (CCTV), keystroke logging, access card tracking, screen recording, facial recognition, productivity scoring, and location tracking. Some systems even use personal devices without what researchers describe as genuine consent.

Examples cited in the reports include a fast-food chain that allegedly used cameras in changing rooms and an AI system that flagged a supermarket cashier for a 0.18% error rate. Microsoft Teams has also been noted for automatically updating a worker's location to 'in office' based on Wi-Fi connection.

A poll commissioned by the Minderoo Foundation, conducted from January 20-28, 2026, indicated that 43% of Australians were aware that some employers utilize technology for monitoring. However, a significant gap in transparency exists, with only 9% of respondents knowing it was in use in their own workplaces. The survey also revealed that workers are particularly concerned about audio surveillance (72%), live-screen monitoring (71%), and emotion recognition (70%).

The timeline and legal landscape

Professor Edward Santow, Co-Director of HTI, stated that "Australian law is complicated and dangerously out of date," failing to adequately protect workers. Senator Tony Sheldon acknowledged these "critical concerns about the impact of workplace surveillance on the privacy, health and dignity of working Australians".

Australia's legal framework is fragmented, lacking a comprehensive national law specifically for AI. The federal Privacy Act 1988 contains exemptions for employee records, meaning certain aspects of employee data handling are not covered by its principles. State laws, such as the New South Wales Workplace Surveillance Act, govern specific surveillance methods, often requiring employers to provide notice.

In December 2025, the Federal Government confirmed its intention to rely on existing laws rather than introduce mandatory AI-specific legislation. However, the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 is set to introduce new transparency obligations for automated decision-making starting December 10, 2026. Separately, on July 15, 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced proposed Australian Standards for AI, which National Cabinet considered in August 2026, with legislation anticipated in early 2027.

What we could not confirm

This investigation could not confirm the specific names of companies implicated in the fast-food and supermarket examples of AI surveillance. The full scope and detailed provisions of the proposed AI legislation expected in early 2027 are also not yet publicly detailed in the records.