Justice Canada Expands Desk Sensors Amid Employee Privacy Concerns
The federal Department of Justice has significantly expanded its deployment of heat and motion sensors installed beneath employee desks, triggering widespread concerns among staff members and their union representatives about potential workplace monitoring. Despite official assurances that the sensors are solely for analyzing office space utilization, many employees describe the technology as "creepy" and express skepticism about its ultimate purpose.
Expanding Sensor Deployment Across Justice Offices
Since 2023, Justice Canada has been implementing these sensors across various departmental offices, with a new wave of installations targeting additional workplaces beginning January 12, 2026. This represents the third phase of what officials describe as a pilot project to gather anonymous data about how office spaces are being utilized. According to Justice Canada spokesperson Ian McLeod, this latest phase is scheduled to continue until mid-March, after which the sensors will be removed from employee desks.
The devices are installed both under individual workstations and in common areas, with officials emphasizing that they detect only presence and movement without identifying specific individuals. "Sensors indicate when there is a person present, or when a workstation or room is empty. They do not include cameras or microphones, and they do not indicate 'who' is present," reads an internal departmental memo obtained by journalists.
Timing Raises Suspicion Among Employees
The expansion of the sensor program coincides with the federal government's announcement that it will increase mandatory office attendance for nearly all public servants from three to four days per week beginning in July 2026. This timing has fueled concerns among Department of Justice employees that the sensors could eventually be used to monitor compliance with the enhanced return-to-office policy.
"The pilot's purpose is simply to help understand how office space is used so we can better plan and improve the workplace, including layouts, meeting rooms, quiet areas, and shared spaces for employees," McLeod stated in an email. "Heat and motion together help ensure the information is accurate while remaining anonymous."
Employee and Union Response
Despite these official reassurances, many Justice Canada employees remain unconvinced. Multiple staff members who spoke anonymously described feeling uncomfortable with the presence of sensors beneath their desks, with one characterizing the experience as "creepy." Others questioned the necessity of such technology when simpler alternatives exist for assessing workspace utilization.
"(It) cannot be cheaper to install whatever this is than just have a manager walk around" and observe office usage directly, one employee commented. The Association of Justice Counsel, the union representing federal government lawyers, confirmed that affected members have expressed significant concerns about the sensors installed at their workstations.
The controversy highlights growing tensions between workplace efficiency initiatives and employee privacy expectations in government offices. As Justice Canada continues its sensor pilot program through March 2026, both management and staff will be watching closely to see how the collected data is ultimately utilized and whether employee fears about attendance monitoring prove justified.
