Background checks as ongoing monitoring: what the law asks at each location

What it watches

criminal, credit or driving records, rechecked during employment

Family

Personal life

Reads as this class

for example "ongoing background checks" in a practice column

• Noticestatutory requirementThe Art. 13 information at the time the data is collected: who, why, on which basis, the legitimate interest where that is the basis, recipients, retention, rights. GDPR Art. 13WP249 para 3.1.2
• Noticestatutory requirementNo information about an employee may be collected by a device not first brought to the employee's knowledge. Code du travail L1222-4CNIL guidance ACT-7
• Noticestatutory requirementNo information on a candidate collected through a device not first disclosed. Code du travail L1221-9
• Places kept privateofficial guidance, not law guidance says noLimits by place: never in sensitive areas such as places of worship, sanitary facilities and break rooms. (where it covers toilets or washrooms, showers or bathing areas, change or locker rooms, break rooms or staff lounges and prayer rooms) WP249 para 3.1.1(d) official guidance, not law
• Limitsofficial guidance, not law guidance says noNo generalised screening of employees' social media during employment. WP249 para 5.2(a) official guidance, not law
• Personal devicesofficial guidance, not lawTell private from business use so private information is not monitored; the employer's ownership of a device does not remove the secrecy of communications. (if personal devices are monitored) WP249 para 5.4.2(a)WP249 para 6.1 official guidance, not law
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementAn Art. 6 basis for each purpose; Art. 88 lets national law or collective agreements set more specific employment rules, and is not a basis itself. Consent is rarely free at work; legitimate interest needs a necessary, least intrusive method and a documented balance. GDPR Art. 6GDPR Art. 88WP249 para 3.1.1(a)WP249 para 3.1.1(c)
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementEvery restriction on employees' rights justified by the task and proportionate to the aim. Code du travail L1121-1
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementCriminal offence data only under official authority or where law authorises it, with an Art. 6 basis as well. GDPR Art. 10
• Retentionstatutory requirementKept no longer than the purpose needs, with a set retention period, and deleted once no longer needed. GDPR Art. 5WP249 para 3.1(d)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementThe Art. 13 information at the time the data is collected: who, why, on which basis, the legitimate interest where that is the basis, recipients, retention, rights. GDPR Art. 13WP249 para 3.1.2
• Places kept privateofficial guidance, not law guidance says noLimits by place: never in sensitive areas such as places of worship, sanitary facilities and break rooms. (where it covers toilets or washrooms, showers or bathing areas, change or locker rooms, break rooms or staff lounges and prayer rooms) WP249 para 3.1.1(d) official guidance, not law
• Limitsofficial guidance, not law guidance says noNo generalised screening of employees' social media during employment. WP249 para 5.2(a) official guidance, not law
• Covert monitoringstatutory requirementTo uncover a crime: documented facts supporting a suspicion, necessary, and not disproportionate; blanket or suspicion-free covert measures do not meet it. The Federal Labour Court ruled against keylogging without a concrete suspicion. BDSG s 26(1) sentence 2 Federal Labour Court decision 2 AZR 681/16, named, not quoted
• Personal devicesofficial guidance, not lawTell private from business use so private information is not monitored; the employer's ownership of a device does not remove the secrecy of communications. (if personal devices are monitored) WP249 para 5.4.2(a)WP249 para 6.1 official guidance, not law
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementAn Art. 6 basis for each purpose; Art. 88 lets national law or collective agreements set more specific employment rules, and is not a basis itself. Consent is rarely free at work; legitimate interest needs a necessary, least intrusive method and a documented balance. GDPR Art. 6GDPR Art. 88WP249 para 3.1.1(a)WP249 para 3.1.1(c)
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementEmployee data only where necessary for the employment relationship; consent only where genuinely voluntary, in writing or electronically, with notice of the right to withdraw. BDSG s 26(1) sentence 1BDSG s 26(2)
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementCriminal offence data only under official authority or where law authorises it, with an Art. 6 basis as well. GDPR Art. 10
• Retentionstatutory requirementKept no longer than the purpose needs, with a set retention period, and deleted once no longer needed. GDPR Art. 5WP249 para 3.1(d)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementThe Art. 13 information at the time the data is collected: who, why, on which basis, the legitimate interest where that is the basis, recipients, retention, rights. GDPR Art. 13WP249 para 3.1.2
• Places kept privateofficial guidance, not law guidance says noLimits by place: never in sensitive areas such as places of worship, sanitary facilities and break rooms. (where it covers toilets or washrooms, showers or bathing areas, change or locker rooms, break rooms or staff lounges and prayer rooms) WP249 para 3.1.1(d) official guidance, not law
• Limitsofficial guidance, not law guidance says noNo generalised screening of employees' social media during employment. WP249 para 5.2(a) official guidance, not law
• Limitsstatutory requirement not allowed hereNo investigation of workers' political, religious or union opinions, or of facts irrelevant to their professional aptitude. Workers' Statute Art. 8
• Personal devicesofficial guidance, not lawTell private from business use so private information is not monitored; the employer's ownership of a device does not remove the secrecy of communications. (if personal devices are monitored) WP249 para 5.4.2(a)WP249 para 6.1 official guidance, not law
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementAn Art. 6 basis for each purpose; Art. 88 lets national law or collective agreements set more specific employment rules, and is not a basis itself. Consent is rarely free at work; legitimate interest needs a necessary, least intrusive method and a documented balance. GDPR Art. 6GDPR Art. 88WP249 para 3.1.1(a)WP249 para 3.1.1(c)
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementCriminal offence data only under official authority or where law authorises it, with an Art. 6 basis as well. GDPR Art. 10
• Retentionstatutory requirementKept no longer than the purpose needs, with a set retention period, and deleted once no longer needed. GDPR Art. 5WP249 para 3.1(d)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Representative stepstatutory requirementThe works council's consent to an arrangement on processing staff personal data. (where a works council exists) WOR Art. 27(1)(k)WOR Art. 27(2)
• Noticestatutory requirementThe Art. 13 information at the time the data is collected: who, why, on which basis, the legitimate interest where that is the basis, recipients, retention, rights. GDPR Art. 13WP249 para 3.1.2
• Places kept privateofficial guidance, not law guidance says noLimits by place: never in sensitive areas such as places of worship, sanitary facilities and break rooms. (where it covers toilets or washrooms, showers or bathing areas, change or locker rooms, break rooms or staff lounges and prayer rooms) WP249 para 3.1.1(d) official guidance, not law
• Limitsofficial guidance, not law guidance says noNo generalised screening of employees' social media during employment. WP249 para 5.2(a) official guidance, not law
• Personal devicesofficial guidance, not lawTell private from business use so private information is not monitored; the employer's ownership of a device does not remove the secrecy of communications. (if personal devices are monitored) WP249 para 5.4.2(a)WP249 para 6.1 official guidance, not law
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementAn Art. 6 basis for each purpose; Art. 88 lets national law or collective agreements set more specific employment rules, and is not a basis itself. Consent is rarely free at work; legitimate interest needs a necessary, least intrusive method and a documented balance. GDPR Art. 6GDPR Art. 88WP249 para 3.1.1(a)WP249 para 3.1.1(c)
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementCriminal offence data only under official authority or where law authorises it, with an Art. 6 basis as well. GDPR Art. 10
• Retentionstatutory requirementKept no longer than the purpose needs, with a set retention period, and deleted once no longer needed. GDPR Art. 5WP249 para 3.1(d)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementThe Art. 13 information at the time the data is collected: who, why, on which basis, the legitimate interest where that is the basis, recipients, retention, rights. GDPR Art. 13WP249 para 3.1.2
• Places kept privateofficial guidance, not law guidance says noLimits by place: never in sensitive areas such as places of worship, sanitary facilities and break rooms. (where it covers toilets or washrooms, showers or bathing areas, change or locker rooms, break rooms or staff lounges and prayer rooms) WP249 para 3.1.1(d) official guidance, not law
• Limitsofficial guidance, not law guidance says noNo generalised screening of employees' social media during employment. WP249 para 5.2(a) official guidance, not law
• Personal devicesofficial guidance, not lawTell private from business use so private information is not monitored; the employer's ownership of a device does not remove the secrecy of communications. (if personal devices are monitored) WP249 para 5.4.2(a)WP249 para 6.1 official guidance, not law
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementAn Art. 6 basis for each purpose; Art. 88 lets national law or collective agreements set more specific employment rules, and is not a basis itself. Consent is rarely free at work; legitimate interest needs a necessary, least intrusive method and a documented balance. GDPR Art. 6GDPR Art. 88WP249 para 3.1.1(a)WP249 para 3.1.1(c)
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementCriminal offence data only under official authority or where law authorises it, with an Art. 6 basis as well. GDPR Art. 10
• Retentionstatutory requirementKept no longer than the purpose needs, with a set retention period, and deleted once no longer needed. GDPR Art. 5WP249 para 3.1(d)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementThe Art. 13 information at collection, and tell workers about monitoring in an accessible way. UK GDPR Art. 13ICO monitoring guidance para 1.9
• Written policyofficial guidance, not lawMonitoring policies that set out the nature, purpose and extent of monitoring, brought to workers' attention and matching what happens. ICO monitoring guidance para 1.12(b) official guidance, not law
• Covert monitoringofficial guidance, not lawCovert monitoring only exceptionally, for suspected crime or gross misconduct, authorised by senior management after an assessment, tightly targeted and time-limited, never in toilets or changing rooms. ICO monitoring guidance para 1.19(a)ICO monitoring guidance para 1.19(b) Human Rights Act, Article 8, named, not quoted official guidance, not law
• Personal devicesofficial guidance, not lawWhen workers use their own devices, make sure private use is not captured. (if personal devices are monitored) ICO monitoring guidance para 3.11(c) Human Rights Act, Article 8, named, not quoted official guidance, not law
• Lawful basisstatutory requirementAn Art. 6 basis chosen for the specific purpose and documented from the start; consent rarely valid; legitimate interests with a recorded assessment. UK GDPR Art. 6ICO monitoring guidance para 1.4(a)ICO monitoring guidance para 1.4(b)ICO monitoring guidance para 1.4(d)
• Lawful basisofficial guidance, not lawOffence data only under official authority or a specific condition in domestic law. ICO monitoring guidance para 1.6 official guidance, not law
• Retentionstatutory requirementA retention schedule justified by business need, reviewed, and not kept in case a use turns up. UK GDPR Art. 5ICO monitoring guidance para 1.15
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementNotify individuals of the collection and the APP 5 matters. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 5
• Retentionstatutory requirementDestroy or de-identify personal information no longer needed. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 11
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementNotify individuals of the collection and the APP 5 matters. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 5
• Covert monitoringstatutory requirementNo covert surveillance of employees at work without a covert surveillance authority from a Magistrate; surveillance without the notice Part 2 asks for is covert. NSW WSA s 19NSW WSA s 22
• Covert monitoringverification requiredNo communication, publication or possession of records obtained by a device used outside the conditions of the Act. NSW SDA s 11NSW SDA s 12NSW SDA s 14
• Outside workstatutory requirement not allowed hereNo surveillance with a work surveillance device while the employee is not at work, except computer surveillance of the use of equipment or resources the employer provided or paid for. (if it runs outside work) NSW WSA s 16
• Personal devicesstatutory requirementTracking a person, or monitoring a computer they own, needs their consent; the employer's own devices rest on its possession or control. (if personal devices are monitored) NSW SDA s 9NSW SDA s 10
• Retentionstatutory requirementDestroy or de-identify personal information no longer needed. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 11
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementNotify individuals of the collection and the APP 5 matters. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 5
• Retentionstatutory requirementDestroy or de-identify personal information no longer needed. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 11
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementNotify individuals of the collection and the APP 5 matters. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 5
• Covert monitoringstatutory requirementNo covert surveillance of a worker without a covert surveillance authority from the Magistrates Court. ACT WPA s 35
• Outside workstatutory requirement not allowed hereNo surveillance of a worker who is not in a workplace, except data surveillance of employer-supplied equipment and tracking that cannot be switched off. (if it runs outside work) ACT WPA s 42
• Retentionstatutory requirementDestroy or de-identify personal information no longer needed. (when you say the Privacy Act applies) APP 11
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Noticestatutory requirementAt or before collection, tell staff the categories collected, the purposes, and how long each is kept. (when you say the business meets the CCPA thresholds) CCPA 1798.130(a)(5)(C)CCPA 1798.100
• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionstatutory requirementRetention periods disclosed and no longer than reasonably necessary. (when you say the business meets the CCPA thresholds) CCPA 1798.100
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Personal devicesstatutory requirementAn employer can authorise access to messages on a service it provides; that does not reach an employee's personal webmail or accounts, which need the user's authorisation. (if personal devices are monitored) SCA 2701(a)SCA 2701(c)(1)SCA 2701(c)(2)
• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• Retentionofficial guidance, not lawKept only as long as the purpose justifies. ILO code para 8.5 official guidance, not law

• 1 Representative step before start not recorded
• 2 Notice not recorded, or its period not met
• 3 Written policy not recorded where the law asks for one
• 4 Covert monitoring
• 5 Monitoring a place the law keeps private
• 6 Monitoring outside work
• 11 Retention not set, or above the period you set
• 12 Personal devices monitored
• 13 Lawful basis not recorded for an EU or UK line

The example "ongoing background checks" in a practice column reads as this class. Words are matched whole.

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