Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software
Alexi Mostrous and David Brown
From The Times - January 16, 2008
<http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3193
480.ece>

Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of
remotely monitoring a worker's productivity, physical wellbeing and
competence.

The Times has seen a patent application filed by the company for a
computer system that links workers to their computers via wireless
sensors that measure their metabolism. The system would allow
managers to monitor employees' performance by measuring their heart
rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood
pressure. Unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on
the basis of a computer's assessment of their physiological state.

Technology allowing constant monitoring of workers was previously
limited to pilots, firefighters and Nasa astronauts. This is believed
to be the first time a company has proposed developing such software
for mainstream workplaces.

Microsoft submitted a patent application in the US for a "unique
monitoring system" that could link workers to their computers.
Wireless sensors could read "heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG,
brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, movement facial
movements, facial expressions and blood pressure", the application
states.

The system could also "automatically detect frustration or stress in
the user" and "offer and provide assistance accordingly". Physical
changes to an employee would be matched to an individual
psychological profile based on a worker's weight, age and health. If
the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions
suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he
needed help.

The Information Commissioner, civil liberties groups and privacy
lawyers strongly criticised the potential of the system for "taking
the idea of monitoring people at work to a new level". Hugh
Tomlinson, QC, an expert on data protection law at Matrix Chambers,
told The Times: "This system involves intrusion into every single
aspect of the lives of the employees. It raises very serious privacy
issues."

Peter Skyte, a national officer for the union Unite, said: "This
system takes the idea of monitoring people at work to a new level
with a new level of invasiveness but in a very old-fashioned way
because it monitors what is going in rather than the results." The
Information Commissioner's Office said: "Imposing this level of
intrusion on employees could only be justified in exceptional
circumstances."

The US Patent Office confirmed last night that the application was
published last month, 18 months after being filed. Patent lawyers
said that it could be granted within a year.

Microsoft last night refused to comment on the application, but
said: "We have over 7,000 patents worldwide and we are proud of the
quality of these patents and the innovations they represent. As a
general practice, we do not typically comment on pending patent
applications because claims made in the application may be modified
through the approval process."

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article31934
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