India's IT giant Infosys has been fined Rs 2 crore (approximately €2.3 lakh) by the French data protection regulator for its employee time-tracking system. The regulator found that the system, which monitors work hours and activity, violated France's strict privacy laws by collecting excessive personal data without adequate consent.
The case highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of workplace surveillance, especially in Europe where laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are stringent. Infosys, which has a large workforce in France and across Europe, uses the system to log employee hours and tasks. The regulator determined that the system went beyond legitimate business needs, potentially intruding on employee privacy.
For Infosys, the fine is relatively small, but the ruling serves as a warning for other firms using similar tracking tools. The company said it is reviewing the decision and may appeal. This incident comes as companies globally balance productivity monitoring with employee rights.
The French regulator's action is part of a broader push to enforce data protection rules. In recent years, similar fines have been imposed on other tech firms for improper data collection. The Infosys case underscores that non-European companies operating in Europe must comply with local privacy laws.
Going forward, businesses using time-tracking software may need to reassess their methods. The decision could prompt Infosys and others to redesign such systems to minimize data collection and obtain clearer consent from workers.