Amazon is appealing its conviction by the CNIL, the National Commission for Information Technology and Liberties, to a fine of 32 million euros. Pronounced last January, this measure aimed to sanction the company’s policy towards its employees in France, in particular the surveillance system imposed on them. The amount of the fine was calculated to represent approximately 3% of the turnover of Amazon France Logistique (AFL), reports France Info.
A sanction that the French privacy watchdog had described as “almost unprecedented“…but which Amazon therefore chose to contest.”We strongly disagree with the conclusions of the CNIL, which are factually incorrect, and we have appealed this decision“, declared the company’s spokespersons to AFP. The CNIL did not wish to comment on this predictable decision by the group.
A criticized surveillance system
The genesis of the case dates back to 2019, when the CNIL opened an investigation into Amazon’s management methods in France. Complaints from employees and several press articles then painted an unflattering portrait of the surveillance system imposed by AFL on its employees, in particular to keep an eye on their activity and performance. A device “excessively intrusive” according to the CNIL, which in this case relies on the legal framework offered by the GDPR (general data protection regulations).
The Commission criticizes Amazon in particular for massively collecting productivity data from employees in its warehouses, equipped with scanners. Amazon, however, defends itself from any abusive practice, citing for its part tools “required“, in particular in order to”guarantee safety, quality and efficiency of operations“, but also “ensure inventory tracking and package processing on time and in accordance with customer expectations“. The company also responds that these practices would be “common“in the logistics sector. It will now be up to the Council of State to decide.