Legal regulation of employee monitoring in the digital age: between security and privacy.

This article focuses on the evolving practice of employee monitoring in the digital era, emphasizing the need to balance technological advancements with the protection of employee privacy rights. It distinguishes employee monitoring from general surveillance by highlighting its comprehensive nature, involving data collection, analysis, and active use to manage productivity and compliance. The article reviews international legal frameworks, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which establish principles such as proportionality, transparency, and data minimization to regulate workplace monitoring. It also discusses the ethical, legal, and technological challenges posed by emerging tools like artificial intelligence and biometric systems, advocating for clear policies and cooperation between employers and employees to ensure fair, transparent, and lawful monitoring practices.