Engaged in AI monitoring
When the company told him to put a camera in his car, Taylor figured it was a device that would record his drive, not track his every move.
Local bakery driver Trevor Taylor and his colleagues have decided to go on strike to protest the installation of artificial intelligence cameras in cars.
In mid-August, Homegrown announced the installation of surveillance cameras in the company’s vehicles. Drivers like Taylor are initially all on board, thinking it’s just a standard dashboard and useful in an emergency. But what they didn’t expect was that this camera was aimed at the driver instead of the road.
“I feel attacked. This type of management is demoralizing, demeaning and creates a toxic work environment,” Taylor said. The Seattle Times.
The camera is used for driver monitoring.
According to the driver, the camera is about 4 inches wide, features AI technology that can recognize faces, tracks every eye movement, and has a built-in microphone. The Seattle Times He then said that this camera is called the Hawk and is made by the Foresight Analytics company. The product aims to collect data and feedback on drivers’ driving habits to improve safety.
After consulting Homegrown, Taylor was told that installing the equipment would help reduce insurance costs. However, he noticed an odd situation where his ships needed to load them while some other ships didn’t.
“One of the things that drew me to the company was that they believed in the drivers, they believed in us as experts in our field,” said Taylor. “
Manya Janowitz, a driver who has worked at Homegrown for two years, described the company’s actions as “disgusting, harassing, embarrassing” because people like her have to work 7 to 10 hours a day under supervision. AI camera tracking. “It’s very frustrating to sit in a car for hours and watch every eye movement. We know how to do our job well,” said Janowitz.
Driver Manya Janowitz, 29, in front of the company warehouse. See: The Seattle Times
In addition to local businesses, many companies use technology to track the performance of their employees. The shipping company UPS has installed front cameras to monitor the drivers. Amazon has also consistently challenged good drivers by using surveillance cameras.
According to Ifeoma Ajunwa, a law professor at the University of North Carolina, technological advances have overtaken privacy laws. “Advancements in many areas such as big data analytics, communications aggregation, mobile product design, DNA testing and biometrics have greatly expanded the ability to track employees.
To fight the pursuer, drivers like Taylor, Janowitz decided to go on strike. In an Aug. 26 statement, they won and were allowed to use the panel on the camera. “We are proud to be the first to address tracking,” said Janowitz.
Anita Seth, president of Unite Her Local 8, which represents local workers, said the win shows workers can protect and respect privacy when they’re not around. No employee deserves this kind of intervention and constant monitoring.
Lu Kui (Consequences deputy, The Seattle Times)