N.Y. scanners spark union cries of "geoslavery"

[Phatie]

N.Y. scanners spark union cries of "geoslavery"
Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:58 PM ET



By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Every morning Dennis Colson, a surveyor at New York City's Department of Design and Construction, begins his work day by placing his hand on a scanner to log his time and attendance at the office.

The use of hand geometry and other biometric data, like facial and iris recognition, is not new -- the University of Georgia pioneered the use of hand geometry when it installed scanners in its student dining hall in 1974.

But the planned roll-out of hand geometry scanners in all New York City government agencies has sparked union cries of "geoslavery" and assertions that technology developed for security will be used to track, label and control workforces.

"It's frustrating, it's kind of an insult," Colson, 53, told Reuters. "They are talking about going to voice and retina scanners and that's an invasion of privacy in that they can track you wherever you go."

Jon Forster, of the Civil Service Technical Guild, which represents Department of Design and Construction workers, said the biometric systems gave the city a license to obtain personal, uniquely identifiable data to track workers.

"It's really a matter of this kind of technology having far outstripped any legislation or even case law in the United States in terms of what are the restrictions," Forster told Reuters.

"On the one hand I think people might all agree that if you put a GPS system in ambulances then that's a good thing. On the other hand you have an employer in Ohio who has demanded that two of his employees have chips implanted in their bodies."

Excerpt: http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...1-ArticlePage1

[Axxman300]

I like the idea of City, State and federal employees being monitored.

I have to account for everything I do, why not them?

[Viking]

Big Brother will be watching us. I don't like the idea of anyone being monitored except for violent criminals. Even city, state and federal employees. It's just creepy.

[darthadv]

i don't see the problem here... government employees are complaining because they won't be able to get away with taking long lunches... given how slow some of these facilities are in helping civilians, at least this will ensure that they're not skimping on the time they're at least supposed to be "working"...

"geoslavery" my ass...

[ZeoBandit]

I see no problem with this. My taxes pay them. I want my money's worth!

[Otis5150]

What's the difference between this and me having to swipe my ID card to get into my office? I'm sure my company can look that up if they want to. As long as they're not putting chips in peoples heads to track their every move, I don't see what the issue is.

[vh resurrection]

What's the difference between this and me having to swipe my ID card to get into my office? I'm sure my company can look that up if they want to. As long as they're not putting chips in peoples heads to track their every move, I don't see what the issue is.

Exactly. I have to swipe my ID too. And I'm not being paid with tax dollars either!

[Phatie]

government workers now, the entire population later..

[Viking]

government workers now, the entire population later..

Exactly.