Regulator discovers that Amazon tracks its French warehouse employees down to the second

The French Data Protection Authority, known as CNIL, has imposed a substantial fine of €32 million ($35 million) on Amazon France Logistique, the local operator of Amazon’s warehouses, for implementing a surveillance system that the regulatory body deemed “excessively intrusive” in monitoring the activities of its workers.

According to the CNIL’s statement on Tuesday, Amazon France Logistique equipped its warehouse staff with scanners that meticulously recorded their periods of inactivity and the speed at which they executed specific tasks, such as retrieving or shelving items. The CNIL, in its ruling, deemed the surveillance system as “excessive,” pointing out that it measured work interruptions with such precision that it could potentially compel employees to justify every break or interruption. The regulator expressed concern about the level of intrusion into the privacy and routine of the workers.

Responding to the fine, Amazon strongly disagreed with CNIL’s conclusions and indicated its intention to file an appeal. The company defended its use of warehouse management systems, stating that they are industry-standard tools crucial for ensuring the safety, quality, and efficiency of operations. Amazon emphasized that these systems are essential for tracking inventory storage and processing packages within stipulated time frames, aligning with customer expectations.

The scanners implemented in France were designed to measure the time gap between a worker scanning one item and the subsequent item, with the assumption that scanning too quickly could elevate the risk of errors. Amazon argued that this functionality aimed to ensure that employees took adequate time to store products safely and adhere to the company’s safety guidelines. However, in response to CNIL’s inquiries, Amazon revealed its decision to deactivate the collection of this specific data.

Another aspect criticized by the regulator was the determination of staff as “idle” if their scanners remained inactive for a minimum of 10 minutes. Amazon defended this practice, stating that it helped its teams identify problems that could pose risks to the company’s operations or the safety of its employees. In response to the CNIL’s concerns, Amazon announced plans to raise the threshold for logging “idle time” to 30 minutes.

Additionally, the CNIL highlighted a third indicator used by Amazon, which flagged interruptions in a worker’s scanner activity lasting between one and 10 minutes. The regulator argued that such systems subjected employees to continuous surveillance, creating significant pressure on them and giving Amazon a competitive advantage in the online sales market. The regulatory body issued the fine in late December following thorough investigations into Amazon France Logistique’s warehouse practices and multiple complaints from employees. CNIL found that the warehouse operator retained data on its staff’s performance for an excessive duration of 31 days, breaching several elements of EU data protection law.While facing scrutiny in France, Amazon has a history of criticism in the United States for the working conditions inside its warehouses, with employees voicing concerns about long working hours and close surveillance by management.